Andy Burnham has said he is considering imposing a ban on disposable barbecues to combat the risk of further wildfires in the UK. The Mayor of Greater Manchester said he was "certainly going to consider" a ban, adding that people should not be using single-use grills "at this time" amid a "significant problem" of wildfires in the south, where a blaze hit protected heathland in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Extreme heat and drought conditions
Extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK, with temperatures set to soar to 38C in places. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow and amber heat-health alerts affecting the whole of England this week, while the NHS has issued safety guidance to people in the most affected areas, urging them to keep cool, drink plenty of fluids and avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought after a record dry July. This week's high temperatures is heaping pressure on water resources for households, agriculture and the environment. The fifth heatwave of the summer is on track to be the UK’s hottest on record, while much of the country is at "exceptional" risk of severe wildfires if they ignite.
Government response and retailer actions
The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee later this afternoon (Wednesday, 12 August) to discuss potential measures to limit the damage of the extreme weather. Speaking to reporters earlier, Mr Burnham said: "You know, the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable BBQs, that people can take out. I understand why people want to go out and do that, but we need to, in my view, have a situation where we almost just have a temporary ban on those things. We’re going to look at that issue today."
He added: "I don’t know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires."
Retailers suspend sales
Last month, more than 8,000 people signed a petition calling for the government to ban disposable BBQs. A Derbyshire MP reinforced those calls a few days later by calling on major UK retailers and supermarkets to suspend the sale of the items in a bid to reduce the risk of wildfires across the country. In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive of Tesco, High Peak MP Jon Pearce asked for the sale of disposable barbecues to be suspended 'for the remainder of this summer while the risk of wildfires remains expceptionally high'.
Just last week, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's all heeded the calls by pausing sales of disposable barbecues. Other supermarket chains like Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and M&S have not sold disposable grills since 2022. Those suspending sales are understood to have acted in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
Phil Garrigan, chairman of the NFCC, said: "We all need to do what we can to reduce the risk of preventable fires – one small spark can be all that is needed to start a wildfire with the conditions as they are. We have worked closely with retailers to encourage the temporary withdrawal of disposable barbecues from sale and welcome the Government exploring further measures." He added: "Clear, time-limited restrictions, backed by direct public alerts, would help people understand when the risk is greatest and support a consistent approach to preventing fires before they start."
