The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging residents in Lancaster, Lancashire, to sign up for a free emergency messaging service to receive real-time safety alerts and incident updates on their mobile phones. The campaign (launched on January 25, 2026) has seen a surge in engagement in the first days of February 2026 and aims to help families make quicker, safer decisions during local fires or road closures.
The service, provided through the Stay In The Know portal, sends direct messages to households by email, text or voice message based on the postcode users provide when they sign up. That allows residents to receive targeted guidance such as being advised to keep windows and doors closed if there is heavy smoke in the area, or which streets to avoid so emergency vehicles can access incidents.
The push for more sign-ups follows a busy period for local crews, including a large rise in wildfires and an increase in fires linked to lithium‑ion batteries (including vapes and e‑scooters). Local reporting noted that Lancashire attended hundreds of wildfires in 2025 (LancsLive reported 616 wildfires between March and May 2025), underlining the need for fast, localised communication.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Charters said getting information directly from crews and commanders at the scene helps stop rumours and gives people the facts they need to stay safe and keep clear of dangerous areas, which in turn helps fire engines reach incidents. “In an emergency, seconds count—not just for our crews, but for you. Signing up for ‘In the Know’ ensures you aren’t hearing about a major incident in Lancaster through the grapevine, but directly from the commanders on the scene,” he said.
Families can sign up for the free updates at the official portal by providing their postcode and preferred contact method. The system is run in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire County Council. Campaign materials state that, as of February 5, 2026, the service is free and does not share personal information with commercial third parties.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
