UK Government emergency alert - wildfire risk

My wife was driving at the time of that alert and she panicked because she thought it was one of the proximity sensors going off 🤣

I hope that the alert helps keep any wildfires from happening. Here in the Rocky Mountains, our county has been on Stage 2 Fire Restrictions for weeks, where even “permanent” BBQ’s are not allowed to be used, unless it has an on/off control (gas or electric). Stores aren’t permitted to sell charcoal or firewood. Even if humans don’t set off a wildfire (which, sadly, has been happening - intentionally or otherwise), lightning has been a major risk. Dead trees from a pine beetle infestation and dwarf mistletoe incursion has made it worse, in addition to the severe drought and near-record temperatures.

Whatever the cause, the smoke from states west of Colorado has wafted eastward, creating very hazardous air pollution. I heard or read that going outside for an extended time was the equivalent of smoking 7 cigarettes a day. Meanwhile, Wales, Chester, and London (our holiday destinations last month) were all indicating very good air quality.

There is a fire burning in Brecon, Wales and has been burning for quite a while.

I’m in Yorkshire and several people near me got the alert this evening. I was surprised when the alert sounded on my phone, too.

We were walking along the coast road in Portishead overlooking the Severn estuary when we got the warning, firstly in Welsh! I assume it was coming from somewhere in Newport.

this is the first time for this sort of thing.

It is no joke.

38 homes burned in a very nice neighbourhood of Stourbridge, 19 completely destroyed, when a small field fire got out of control. There are fires all over the country. With significant destruction.

Anything that can be done to be that bit safer is urgent.

People I speak to are in fear.

Regarding the fires in South Wales, specialist firefighters and equipment have been sent down from the Lake District, under the National Resilience scheme, to assist there.
Previous to that they had been assisting in Derbyshire at the Tintwistle Fire.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue is one of the national specialist wildfire brigades, who are often deployed elsewhere. There are still 5 other specialist units in Cumbria, including one a few hundred yards from me.

After so long with no rain, everywhere is tinder dry. All it needs is a carelessly dropped match or cigarette to start a fire.

I’m glad to know that, Stuart, and glad to see rain in the forecast for many areas.

glad to see rain in the forecast for many areas.

We had light rain forecast for this morning - it turned out to be about 6 spots...

I am so sorry that you are all going through this. It’s been a horrible summer watching people we care about from one point on the globe to another being caught in these fires. Hopefully, everyone you know and love stays safe.

Only six drops of rain, wasleys? Was there a bunch of wind with those meager droplets? Wind seems to be the biggest risk here at home, when the land is already parched and the temperatures remain high.

We finally got some rain earlier this week, along with cloudy skies (read, noticeably cooler) for a couple of days. This weekend has been sunny and hotter again, but the wildfire smoke got rinsed out of the atmosphere, and it was a fabulous change, even for a short time. I hope that people there are safe, and that property stays safe.

At least with the UK fires there has been no wind to create severe complications.
That could have been catastrophic.
I've had more than half an eye this week on the Three Queens Fire in WA, and that was wind and probably lightning that whipped up a weeks old minor smouldering fire into something far more intense. At least now we have a type 3 team on it, with over 500 personnel and air support, it should be more controllable if the wind comes back mid week. It's actually fascinating watching the air support live on the Onyx app. And Three Queens has benefited from 2 to 4 inches of rain this weekend.
Much of the UK is also forecast good long overdue rain this week.

It was interesting this week with the mass issue of free masks by the American Red Cross at Three Queens due to the terrible air quality.

If this summer is the new UK norm, we have much to learn from the US.