Hours after most people in England and Wales received a government alert on their phones about the risk of wildfires, firefighters in Saltash were called to extinguish a bonfire that had gone out of control.
In a Facebook post, the crew from Saltash fire station said the incident occurred at 9.28am this morning.
Last evening, a national alert was sent to mobile devices warning of the increased fire risk associated with bonfires, disposable BBQs and the careless disposal of cigarettes. Last night, Millions of people across England and Wales received the emergency alert on their phones over the wildfire threat.
From 7pm on Friday (August 14), the warning was sent to UK residents, along with a loud alert tone on several occasions. The message warns against lighting anything that could spark a wildfire, including barbecues, campfires, and fireworks. Recipients were also urged to report fires immediately to 999.
It comes after Andy Burnham called in the military, announced a ban on disposable barbecues and warned smokers not to risk setting light to “tinderbox” Britain as he scrambled to respond to the summer heatwave and wildfires. The Prime Minister also revealed he planned to commission firefighting planes, as used to douse flames in Europe and the US, to combat the spread of wildfires. He said the country has to “face up” to the “changing climate” and needs to transition to “more clean energy”.
In their Facebook post, the Saltash firefighters said: "This morning our crew was mobilised to a bonfire that had spread out of control, requiring firefighters to extinguish it.
"We completely understand that, with the lovely weather, many people are taking the opportunity to enjoy their gardens and get some outdoor jobs done. However, we are urging everyone to please consider the current extremely dry conditions before lighting any fire outdoors.
"Wildfires are currently placing significant pressure on Fire and Rescue Service resources nationally. An avoidable fire can quickly become a serious incident and tie up crews who may be needed elsewhere for an emergency.
"Please help us by avoiding bonfires and disposable BBQs during these dry conditions, and always dispose of cigarettes safely."
Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CKObHkgJF4T5fRZxiGdYqd
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice: https://bit.ly/41EZjzx
Bonfire Blaze Draws Fire Crew Hours After Wildfire Alert