Well, most of that is not really comparable (ie the eclipse and sun screen, I do have replies but I think they’re just not relevant, iykwim), however, I shall reply to your imminent danger comment (although I know I’m possibly wasting my breath and abusing my poor arthritic thumbs). Can you genuinely not understand that these fires can and are imminent? Like one could start literally this minute near where you are.
Think of the places where the wildfires started. Think of one mistake or stupid or careless act and POOOOOFFF! Up it all goes. Just like that. Anywhere and at any time. So in that sense then yes, I do think the alert was necessary. The problem is people are still doing things that are dangerous, so if the only way to make everybody aware has unfortunately meant it has been delivered as an alert.
People living in areas such as Stoke, Stourbridge and the New Forest (Devon and Hampshire), for example, may well have been saying the same thing had that alert gone out last week. Most of England and wales is in an official drought, as you know, and is literally a tinderbox where the slightest spark can cause absolute destruction very, very quickly. So in that - admittedly broader - sense I do think the alert was necessary. If people already heeded the warnings not to use disposable bbqs, discard cigarettes, leave any glass etc then the alert wouldn’t have been needed. How are we supposed to get the message across in a way that gets people’s attentions if it hasn’t happened so far? I am honestly not being combative, but it does frustrate me. God knows what the longterm damage done to the countryside, and all those differing wildlife and fauna will be. But it won’t be good. Especially areas that are really important to the protection of certain species. The NF, for eg, (I don’t know the other areas well, but assume many are similar) has many such areas of scientific interest and programmes of releasing once almost extinct wildlife/fauna etc
Personally I think disposable bbqs should have been banned years ago and the govt have failed, this will be the last heatwave for the year so most of the bbq season will be at an end in a couple of weeks anyway. But there’s no significant rain forecast down here any time soon. A few light showers or drizzle mext week, mid-weekish, but it’s not going to be enough. Especially where I live (not too far from one of the areas, that I love, which may be why I feel so passionately about it), it’s going to take a lot of rain before it starts soaking into the ground and until then we’re sitting on a time bomb which can be set off by an idiot having a bbq in a completely dry forest at any time.
A few more fires in areas that are already burning may be all it takes to start seeing masses of joined up fires spreading across huge swathes of the midlands or south coast or wales. We are basically a small island, with an awful lot crammed in, we live close to our neighbours, countryside just up the road from many of our towns and cities and these fires are jumping roads, the whole country is like kindling right now.
oh I’m sorry about how long that is! But I hope you can accept this reply as genuine concern, and nothing more.