Anyone just had a mobile phone government alert - wildfires?

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 2026-08-14T18:04:09+00:00

DH and I just got it simultaneously. Brief period of trying to work out what on earth was beeping! (Sorry, no AIBU, meant to put this in chat)

Letmeknowifyouchangeyourmind · 15/08/2026 11:21

Frumpitydoo · 14/08/2026 19:05

Yes. It scared my DD12 and is a pisstake as there was no context. Arseholes.

So you would like a pre-warning about an emergency alert? Maybe a pre-pre-warning so that you aren't upset by the pre-warning?

"No context". What context would you like? Does the national news not give enough context for you? Did reading the alert not give you a clue as to what it's about?

Babsnan · 15/08/2026 11:20

I had to 'ok ' it as I was working and realised what it was but when I went to read it for myself it has gone from my phone.

Loulou4022 · 15/08/2026 10:59

Babsnan · 15/08/2026 10:00

I was very grateful for the alert but concerned that there was a need to send it out. What has happened to common sense. And while on the subject of common sense who in the government gave the OK for an emergency message that disappeared so unable to read after. How much do politicians and the like get paid??? Can they get anything right, bet it was the previous governments fault 😀

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You’ve only got to look at some of the posts this morning to see that common sense is severely lacking! 😭
My alert stayed on my phone notifications until I deleted it. So I wonder if it’s something to do with individual phones or network providers

Loulou4022 · 15/08/2026 10:58

Frumpitydoo · 14/08/2026 19:05

Yes. It scared my DD12 and is a pisstake as there was no context. Arseholes.

No context?? Have you not seen on the news and social media that various parts of the country are ablaze?? I woke at 4 yesterday morning to the smell of smoke which was apparently wafting across the river Severn from Wales!!

Babsnan · 15/08/2026 10:00

Frumpitydoo · 14/08/2026 19:05

Yes. It scared my DD12 and is a pisstake as there was no context. Arseholes.

I was very grateful for the alert but concerned that there was a need to send it out. What has happened to common sense. And while on the subject of common sense who in the government gave the OK for an emergency message that disappeared so unable to read after. How much do politicians and the like get paid??? Can they get anything right, bet it was the previous governments fault 😀

EveryoneUsingOutro · 14/08/2026 19:32

Nothing here, I’m in Scotland. Which is ironic as the Cairngorms were ravaged by fire for about 3 weeks with no bloody help from Westminster at all.

ApplePieCinamon · 14/08/2026 19:29

Dh thought it was the slushy machine and ran to switch it off 🤣

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 14/08/2026 19:28

When I was at home we had a real problem locally with teenagers trying to set fire to fields. God I hope this alert knocks some sense into the kids.

Hippywannabe · 14/08/2026 19:23

We were in the pub when about 150 phones went off. It was loud!

Yope · 14/08/2026 19:18

Nincompoo · 14/08/2026 19:11

I thought it was an incoming nuclear apocalypse 🤣😩

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I must admit, whilst sitting in my garden eating our family dinner and hearing a cacophany of phone sirens echoing around ours and neighbours' gardens, whilst searching for my phone I did go completely mute despite DC asking "What's that what's that what's that" as I was thinking it must be an attack on our country, as in the start of a war.

Original poster

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 14/08/2026 19:16

Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 14/08/2026 19:14

Since the message didn't require any user interaction, it doesn't matter even if it was a scam

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It included a link, and if scammers have your number you know to be on the alert for more scam messages.

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Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 14/08/2026 19:14

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 14/08/2026 19:13

I wanted to check it wasn't some kind of scam from somewhere that had DH and my numbers. You can't be too careful nowadays, and the government website as I have explained, implies it's only gone out in Wales.

ETA - I am not in Wales or anywhere near Welsh border.

Edited

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Since the message didn't require any user interaction, it doesn't matter even if it was a scam

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 14/08/2026 19:14

Don't panic, don't panic, lol ;)

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 14/08/2026 19:13

We are somewhere really cut off at the moment and this holiday has been pretty scary for a couple of different reasons. Add in this bloody government warning lighting up our phones and my kids are back to being close to tears.

Original poster

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 14/08/2026 19:13

Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 14/08/2026 19:11

Bit of a daft question really. I mean it was hardly likely to have been sent to just you personally was it? So of course other people received it.
The need to start a thread on it is more than strange.
"Ooh it made me jump". Fascinating story

I wanted to check it wasn't some kind of scam from somewhere that had DH and my numbers. You can't be too careful nowadays, and the government website as I have explained, implies it's only gone out in Wales.

ETA - I am not in Wales or anywhere near Welsh border.

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julie81 · 14/08/2026 19:12

We had Welsh then 5 mins later the English version. Made me jump.

Nincompoo · 14/08/2026 19:11

atamlin · 14/08/2026 19:11

I thought it was a bloody tsunami warning 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I thought it was an incoming nuclear apocalypse 🤣😩

Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 14/08/2026 19:11

Bit of a daft question really. I mean it was hardly likely to have been sent to just you personally was it? So of course other people received it.
The need to start a thread on it is more than strange.
"Ooh it made me jump". Fascinating story

atamlin · 14/08/2026 19:11

I thought it was a bloody tsunami warning 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Original poster

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 14/08/2026 19:10

Oddly, the government website only has it in Welsh
Anfonwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU

Mae yna berygl difrifol o dân ar draws y genedl. Ni ddylai trigolion, tirfeddianwyr nac ymwelwyr ymgymryd ag unrhyw weithgaredd a allai achosi tân, gan gynnwys barbeciwiau tafladwy, pyllau tân, llosgyddion gardd neu dân gwyllt. Gall hyd yn oed fflam fach ddatblygu'n gyflym yn dân gwyllt mawr, gan beryglu bywydau, cartrefi, busnesau ac ymatebwyr brys.

Dilynwch y diweddariadau swyddogol ac adroddwch arwyddion o dân ar unwaith drwy ffonio 999. Edrychwch ar gov.uk/alerts am fwy o wybodaeth
Sent by the UK government at 6:57pm on Friday 14 August 2026

Google translation:

sent by the UK Government There is a serious fire risk across the nation. Residents, landowners or visitors should not undertake any activity that could cause a fire, including disposable barbecues, fire pits, garden burners or fireworks. Even a small flame can quickly develop into a large wildfire, endangering lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders. Follow official updates and report signs of fire immediately by calling 999. See gov.uk/alerts for more information

About Emergency Alerts

Your mobile phone or tablet may get an emergency alert if there’s a danger to life nearby. Alerts tell you what to do to stay safe.

http://gov.uk/alerts

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shellyleppard · 14/08/2026 19:10

We had three alarms, i thought it was the carbon monoxide detector or fire alarm at first. Made me jump!!

Nincompoo · 14/08/2026 19:10

Frumpitydoo · 14/08/2026 19:05

Yes. It scared my DD12 and is a pisstake as there was no context. Arseholes.

The country has been ablaze for the last week, what more context do you need?!

bdg · 14/08/2026 19:09

Frumpitydoo · 14/08/2026 19:05

Yes. It scared my DD12 and is a pisstake as there was no context. Arseholes.

Heaven forbid your 12 year old isn’t prioritised over a national emergency.

Somertime · 14/08/2026 19:09

Im in wales so I got a welsh message 5 minutes before the English one - i was googling to see what it was about and did get a bit panicked

Original poster

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 14/08/2026 19:08

msbevvy · 14/08/2026 19:06

Yes, but it disappeared before I could read it properly. Something about wildfires and bbqs?

Yes, don't light any fires, basically.

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