A SEVERE alert has been issued by the Government due to a "very high risk of wildfires".
The alert was sent to residents of Herefordshire and would have been received on their phones this evening (August 14). warns that residents, landowners, and visitors should not participate in any activity that could start a fire.
This includes using disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. The message warned that even a small flame could "rapidly develop" into a major wildfire, and would place lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham placed a temporary ban on disposable barbecues after the grills were said to be the source of multiple wildfires which have broken out across the UK.
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Burnham said the ban – which applies to Wales, Scotland and England, but not Northern Ireland – would be in place “until further notice”.
He also warned smokers against lighting up outdoors and urged them to dispose of cigarettes carefully.
More wildfires have now struck England and Wales in 2026 so far than in the whole of 2025, with the latest spate of blazes in the West Midlands having led to people fleeing their homes to get out of the path of encroaching fires.
Today in Herefordshire, a serious building fire in Eaton Bishop prompted a significant response from the fire service, with smoke being spotted for miles around.
Residents across Herefordshire reported smelling smoke on Thursday and Friday, with concerns linked to large fires near Rhayader in Powys and renewed activity at Hanter Hill near Kington.
Firefighters were also called to a blaze near the A44 near the Bromyard Downs yesterday evening, which saw flames tear through dry undergrowth.
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