The sale of disposable barbecues has been temporarily banned across Great Britain as hot, dry conditions fuel wildfires and authorities warn they pose a significant risk to the public.Government guidance says the barbecues cannot currently be considered safe and must not be sold in shops or online while the restrictions remain in place.The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said disposable barbecues had been linked to several serious wildfires across the country this summer.The restriction follows an emergency Cobra meeting earlier this week, where ministers discussed measures to respond to record temperatures and the growing wildfire risk.
Why have disposable barbecues been banned?
The government said the combination of dry ground, high temperatures and ongoing drought conditions means even a small fire can spread quickly.Disposable barbecues are particularly difficult to extinguish safely and can remain hot after use, creating a risk of grass and vegetation catching fire.The government said retailers will receive guidance on the temporary restriction, which will be kept under review.Under that framework, retailers were advised to suspend sales when an extreme heat event was expected or when local authorities made a reasonable, evidence-based request.
UK PM described as a ‘tinderbox’
Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned people against lighting fires outdoors as crews continue to tackle blazes across England and Wales.“Britain is a tinderbox right now,” Burnham told BBC Radio 5 Live.He said there were 37 fires across England and Wales, including four classified as major incidents.“Setting a fire in any outdoor setting of any kind is a risk to other people’s homes, it’s a risk to other people’s lives, don’t do it, please don’t do it,” he said.Burnham also said some of the fires currently burning across the country may have been started by disposable barbecues.
Fires cause dozens of casualties
The warning comes after parts of the UK recorded their hottest day of the year on Thursday, with wildfires spreading through dry grass and reaching residential areas.In the West Midlands, residents were forced to leave their homes as several fires spread across the region.The West Midlands Ambulance Service said it treated 54 people across eight fires, with 19 taken to hospital.
Government considers firefighting aircraft
Burnham said the government was considering bringing in specialist firefighting aircraft, similar to those used in parts of Europe and the US, to help tackle large wildfires.He also said emergency financial support was being considered for fire services due to increased demand.The prime minister said the country’s fire and rescue services were not sufficiently equipped for the scale of wildfire incidents now being seen.“We don’t have the capability in the way that we should have to fight these fires,” Burnham said.He also linked the growing wildfire risk to changing climate conditions and called for a transition towards cleaner energy.
