AIBU to think the wildfire alert about barbecues was unnecessary?

[HollyhockDayssss]

AIBU to think the alert was unnecessary? I get wildfires are an issue but informing the public not to use bbqs isnt a life and death situation.

its a lowest common denominator thing. Those it's meant for won't be bothered and will carry on regardless

So asking people not to be dicks by burning down half the country isn’t a national emergency?

I. Have. No. Words.

But the whole country isn't on fire.

Frankly, just my IMO,.if you're going to be ringing bells/klaxons or whatever in a household it should be for situations such as "you may need to evacuate now,.there is a problem locally"....it shouldn't be used for a nationwide "mind how you go".

If you have to send that type of message (and I accept there may be a need) I don't see the need for all the bells...it devalues the serious alerts.

I live in an area popular with tourists, too many of them forget all common sense because they're on holiday, things they wouldn't do at home seem OK because they're just having fun and they've been drinking. If the message makes just a few of them think again then I'm all for it

This just proves to me that there are people out there that need reminding and can't manage to think about the dangers for themselves.

It was absolutely essential.

Jeez how naive are you.
Let’s put all our faith in the government. They know what they are doing. We can trust them to have our best interests at heart.

Do you seriously believe the risk is limited to the Cairngorms? The fires have been all over the place, a random spark virtually anywhere could start a major wildfire. You may be sitting perfectly safely one moment and then be in imminent risk of your life if some idiot in your vicinity drops a match on the ground.

Why don't you go and ask the firefighters and military who have been called in to fight the fires, whether they think you're being unfair? I'm sure they'll have 5 minutes to spare outside of risking their lives to tell you.

It’s an important message, houses are being destroyed by fire not to mention hundreds of acres of open space, some caused by bbq’s

if you are using one at home on concrete, fine, but it’s irresponsible to light one on dry land that’s combustible

You clearly don't live in an area where there have already been 2 massive wildfires !

You aren’t wrong OP. It’s an emergency system to be used sparingly in times of significant national emergency. Which this isn’t. If it’s increasingly used like this,
increasingly people will just ignore it.

I presume you havent lost Land or a house over the last few months?

Just becaise its not effe ting you directly, it IS infact Life and Death

It's awful (& I'm local)

What nefarious purpose do you think the alert has then?

#tinfoilhat.

I had ash landing in my garden yesterday from a wildfire 0.3 miles away from my home. I was pleased to see the warning. So many animals have died. People have lost their homes. People have been out having bbqs near us to watch the perseids, and will be again tonight. I feel the warning was sensible.

If a wildfire really got going it would turn into an national emergency pretty fucking quickly. That's the point.

YANBU.

Sending out the information was important. Using the alert when it's not a matter of immediate action to avoid loss will devalue it as an alert for that purpose. People will turn it off or not bother reading future ones.

Not nefarious. Incompetent. They are the last people you would want in charge of an emergency alert system. God help if they is an actual real national emergency.

Idiots bring them to the NF. They're not on general sale in the area since a local agreement was reached with retailers a couple of years ago.

What a daft thing to say - some folks need things in black and white! Those awful disposable bbq things should be banned.

No. And the vast majority of people who received it don't either.

Ok then. So trying to prevent wildfires is "incompetent".

Right you are.

To be fair, then that’s on the idiots who have ignored the alerts - more candidates for the Darwin Awards. Survival of the fittest and all that, bring the national average IQ up very slowly 🤷🏼‍♀️It’s the emergency services/personnel and others that would be affected and put at risk by these fools that I would feel bad for, not those who choose their own fates in such a way. There should also be some fine/punishments for people who purposely ignore warnings.

And of course it can be a matter of life or death! You can see on this thread who has the privilege of not living near any of these fires or know anyone affected. To put it bluntly, they’re either ignorant, as thick as shit or never leave their own home town, ever, and have never heard of people that leave their homes and visit - or even (gasp) go on a thing called a “holiday” - elsewhere in the uk, especially in the summer. In 5 consecutive heatwaves. With hosepipe bans and in an official drought! So, no, why on earth would anyone need to be interested in anything beyond their own tiny town and life?!

So? Some of that is just luck.