Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues, citing increased wildfire risks driven by this summer's droughts. He called on "all retailers big and small" to adhere to voluntary guidance to suspend sales during extreme heat.
Burnham also stated that the government would explore potentially banning single-use grills during summer months in the "longer term." This follows discussions at an emergency Cobra meeting concerning the government's response to record temperatures.
A framework agreed in 2023 between fire chiefs and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) already sees some large retailers and supermarkets voluntarily suspending sales during extreme heat events or upon requests from local councils. Burnham highlighted that single-use grills have been linked to several recent blazes, advising people not to use them "at this moment in time."
Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are officially in drought, creating conditions conducive to fire spread. The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C in parts of England.
Local councils, including Brighton & Hove and Fylde, have previously used public space protection orders to ban single-use grills in public areas. Those who defy such orders can face fines, which are set to increase to £500 in the future.