Emergency wildfires alert causes chaos on live TVYour support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
The prime minister has called in the military to help battle a fire in the West Midlands, before sending an emergency alert to phones across England and Wales about the wildfire threat.
Announcing an earlier set of measures on Friday, Mr Burnham warned “Britain is a tinderbox right now” with “37 fires smouldering around the country”.
Several major blazes, including in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, where 19 homes were completely destroyed.
Mr Burnham said 100 military personnel – from Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, supported by the 22 Engineer Regiment – had been deployed to South Wales to offer “critically needed” support to fight fires throughout the region.
Among their equipment are four water bowsers, each capable of storing and transporting 20,000 litres of water, and a further 100 members of the Armed Forces were deployed on Friday evening.
Aerial firefighting capacity, such as helicopters to dampen flames, will be commissioned at a national level, the Prime Minister added.
The alert, sent on a rolling basis from around 7pm to millions, warns people not to light anything that could spark a fire, including barbecues, campfires and fireworks. They are also urged to report any fire immediately by calling 999.
Autumn rain may not alleviate drought conditions, says Met Office
Autumn rainfall is not guaranteed to reverse the drought conditions affecting most of England and all of Wales, the Met Office has warned.
Chief meteorologist Will Lang said rain is on its way, but there remains a question mark over how much would fall.
In a bone-dry summer, rainfall totals for July have been as low as 1 per cent of the expected average, in the South East. Some parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex did not have a single rain day for 59 days.
These conditions have brought 71.3 per cent of England into drought, according to the Environment Agency. Natural Resources Wales has declared a drought across the whole of Wales.
Mr Lang said: “Having seen virtually no rainfall in southern parts of the UK, we will see some rainfall.
“‘How much?’ is the question. The answer is probably not too much compared with our forecast,” he told PA. “It’s looking like the overall amount of rain will still be below normal for the time of year.”
He continued: “Looking forward into the autumn, though, that’s when we’d normally see a change of conditions. We do see wetter and windier conditions and we will see more rainfall.
“Again, ‘how much?’ is the question – and whether that’s enough to alleviate things like the current drought problems, we don’t know yet.”
Alex Croft15 August 2026 14:31
In pictures: Stourbridge left scorched by West Midlands wildfires
(Getty)
(Getty)
(Getty)
Alex Croft15 August 2026 14:01
Sadiq Khan warns Burnham not to ‘slow down on net zero’
Andy Burnham has been warned not to “slow down on net zero” by London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who argued the heatwave and wildfires showed the need for action on climate change.
The prime minister has acknowledged the devastation caused by the extreme weather is due to climate change but has faced criticism over his stance on North Sea oil and gas, after promising a “pragmatic” approach which won praise from Donald Trump, who supports new drilling in the area.
Sir Sadiq, who has been nominated for a life peerage, called for “reassurance” from Mr Burnham’s government that there would be no shift away from commitments to end reliance on fossil fuels, demanding international “action over apathy” on climate change.
Sir Sadiq Khan has urged Andy Burnham not to slow down in the drive to net zero (PA) (PA Archive)
In a sign of tensions within Labour over the issue, Sir Sadiq said the planet was in a “deeply precarious position”.
“And that’s why we need reassurance from the Government that they won’t slow down on net zero or reducing our reliance on oil and gas and that they’ll continue accelerating the green investment we need to get our country and planet back on track,” he said.
He said national governments around the world ”must choose action over apathy and commit to delivering Net Zero, reducing our reliance on oil and gas, and investing in the large-scale green projects we urgently need to cut emissions, adapt to extreme heat, and protect communities from flooding and wildfires”.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 13:29
Prince of Wales thanks emergency services for wildfire response
The Prince of Wales has thanked the emergency services for their response to the wildfires across the country.
In a statement, William said: “To the firefighters, emergency responders and volunteers battling wildfires across the UK, thank you.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have lost their homes, and with those working tirelessly to protect communities, homes and the countryside. W”.
(Reuters)
Alex Croft15 August 2026 13:00
Recap: Multiple homes completely destroyed after huge West Midlands fires
Nineteen homes were completely destroyed in the West Midlands after a large wildfire rapidly spread into buildings during the UK’s hottest day of the year.
Huge blazes across the region led to “apocalyptic” scenes, thousands of 999 calls and evacuations, with residents told to “stay away” from their homes as firefighters work to tackle the blaze.
In addition to the 19 homes that were destroyed in Stourbridge, a further 18 were damaged as the fire spread over more than 500 acres.
Crews are still working to tackle the blaze which has left a “significant” number of residents displaced.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 12:30
Burnham facing fresh calls to block North Sea oil and gas drilling
Andy Burnham is facing fresh calls to block new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, after he said “we have to face up to the changing climate”.
Environmental campaigners have warned extraction from the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field will pave the way for extreme heat in the years to come.
The Prime Minister told reporters on Friday that he wanted to see an acceleration in the transition towards fossil fuel-free energy sources.
He was speaking in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where 19 houses were fully destroyed and 18 damaged in a wildfire this week.
(AFP/Getty)
Almost three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, and 2026 is the first year on record to see three separate days where temperatures reached the 37C threshold, as well as the first year with four days at 36C or above.
“We have to face up to the changing climate and I think we need a different debate about that,” Mr Burnham said.
“There’s no point denying where we are – we need to face up to it.
“We need more clean energy.
“We need to see that transition accelerate.”
Mr Burnham has faced pressure from Washington DC to approve drilling in the North Sea.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 11:58
Burnham sends in army to battle wildfires in South Wales
As we reported earlier, Mr Burnham has sent in the military to help deal with wildfires across the UK.
“Britain is a tinderbox right now”, the prime minister said, with “37 fires smouldering around the country”.
He said 100 military personnel – from Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, supported by the 22 Engineer Regiment – had been deployed to South Wales to offer “critically needed” support to fight fires throughout the region.
Among their equipment are four water bowsers, each capable of storing and transporting 20,000 litres of water, and a further 100 members of the Armed Forces were deployed on Friday evening.
Aerial firefighting capacity, such as helicopters to dampen flames, will be commissioned at a national level, Mr Burnham added.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 11:33
The UK government alert went off just as BBC Proms was due to play Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 10:30
Fire services urge people not to call 999 to report on others having barbecues
Fire services have urged people not to call 999 to report people having barbecues unless there is an emergency following the 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 wildfire, including barbecues and garden incinerators.
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service was among those experiencing a “high volume” of 999 calls.
In a statement on X, the service said: “Please only call 999 if there is an emergency or a fire producing significant smoke.
“We understand residents may be concerned, but we are unable to respond to reports of neighbours having BBQs, bonfires or campfires in their gardens unless there is an emergency.”
The service said it supported the Government’s message and advised against bonfires, fireworks, campfires or disposable barbecues in the dry conditions.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it appreciated the public’s “vigilance”, but in a statement on Facebook asked people to call 999 only if there is “a genuine emergency or an immediate risk to life, property or the environment”.
That message was echoed by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who asked for 999 calls only to report “a new emergency”.
Alex Croft15 August 2026 09:30
Rayner’s department to meet with fire chiefs
Angela Rayner, the communities secretary, said that her department will hold a summit for fire chiefs and the firefighters union to look at future responses to wildfires
“As well as supporting firefighters on the ground now, my department will hold a summit bringing together fire chiefs, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council, the Fire Brigades Union and other key organisations to look at our future response.
“To the residents affected, particularly those who lost their homes and their life’s possessions to fire – we will work with the mayor and local leaders to make sure you are supported.”
Alex Croft15 August 2026 08:25