The 20th anniversary special of the BBC program The One Show was interrupted Friday night by a government-issued emergency wildfire alert sent to mobile phones across the country. The alert, which sounded at 7 p.m., warned against activities that could spark wildfires, such as lighting barbecues, campfires, and fireworks.
Hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp appeared startled as their phones began to ring, with Jones initially mistaking the alert for a fire alarm. "I think that's the fire alarm... I'm doing my best to keep a straight face. But we continue," Jones said, as reported by the Daily Mail. Kemp also appeared confused, later clarifying the nature of the alert to viewers.
This marked the largest deployment of the emergency alert system since its introduction in 2023. The alert stated, "There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, fire pits, garden incinerators or fireworks." It cautioned that even small flames could rapidly develop into major wildfires, endangering lives, homes, businesses, and emergency responders.
The broadcast continued despite the interruption. The program featured guests Christine Lampard, Matt Baker, and Tom Grennan joining Jones and Kemp to celebrate the show's two decades on air.
Wildfire Situation
The emergency alert was issued amid a heatwave in Britain and follows a significant wildfire incident near Stourbridge. Approximately 100 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out near Stourbridge golf course. The fire destroyed 19 homes and damaged 18 others, spreading across an estimated 500 acres and injuring six people, including three firefighters.
Paramedics treated 54 individuals in the West Midlands, with 19 requiring hospitalization, following several wildfires that erupted during what was the country's fifth warmest day on record. The government had previously enlisted the army and banned disposable barbecues to help combat wildfires in the dry conditions.