15/08/2026
🔥 A PHONE ALERT THAT MADE US STOP AND LOOK AROUND…
Sitting at my son’s cricket match yesterday evening, phones suddenly started going off around us.
We don’t often receive Government Emergency Alerts, so naturally it caught our attention.
The message?
🚨 There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally.
The Government was warning people across England and Wales about the increased wildfire risk and asking people not to undertake activities that could start a fire, including disposable BBQs, firepits, garden incinerators and fireworks.
And actually, looking around the cricket ground, the alert suddenly felt very relevant.
The cricket pitch my son was playing on looked much like so much of the country at the moment, dry, brittle and with very little grass left in places. 🌾
Then, just next to the clubhouse, as like most Friday evenings, the BBQ was in full swing.
Yesterday’s alert was a good reminder that fire safety isn’t just about what happens inside a building.
And whilst the immediate concern is wildfires, it got us thinking about fire safety around our own premises too.
🌿 Is dry vegetation building up around your building?
🗑️ Are combustible materials or waste being stored outside?
⚡ Are external electrical equipment and installations being used safely?
🚪 Are access routes and escape routes clear?
🔥 Have you considered how the increased fire risk could affect your premises?
A fire doesn’t necessarily have to start inside a building to put people, property and businesses at risk.
As fire risk assessors, we look at the bigger picture identifying hazards and considering how fire could start, spread and affect the people and premises involved.
The Government’s alert was a timely reminder for all of us:
Don’t wait for the alarm to sound before you think about fire safety.
📞 If you’re responsible for a workplace, HMO, communal area, school, nursery, office or other premises, when was your fire risk assessment last reviewed?
