Fire services urge people to save 999 calls for emergencies after alert

Rob Freeman, Press Association Fire services have urged people not to call 999 to report people having barbecues unless there is an emergency following the UK Government’s alert about wildfires. The UK’s mobile phone alert system was used on Friday evening to warn people not to light anything which could spark a wildfi

Sam Corbishley | Senior News Reporter Published August 15, 2026 7:48am Updated August 15, 2026 7:48am Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also urged people not to light fires in ‘tinderbox’ Britain (Picture: Reuters) Fire services have urged people not to save 999 calls for genuine emergencies following the Government’s wi

Police and fire have pleaded with people not to call 999 after being inundated following the alert

Alerts began flooding phones at 7pm, shortly before the Cabinet Office said they would be sent to millions