Burnham says disposable BBQ ban under consideration amid UK wildfire risks
Andy Burnham reveals the UK government is considering banning single-use barbecues after record-breaking droughts and a surge in wildfires across England and Wales.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Government considers banning disposable barbecues amid escalating wildfire risks
- Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales officially declared in drought
- Met Office issues rare amber extreme heat warning with temperatures hitting up to 38C
- Fire crews responded to a record 393 wildfires across England and Wales in July
Andy Burnham has stated that the government is actively considering a ban on disposable barbecues as an increased risk of wildfires sweeps across the country, driven by severe summer droughts. The prime minister emphasized to reporters that single-use grills have been responsible for a number of recent blazes and urged the public to avoid using them at this current time.
The announcement coincides with Burnham chairing an emergency Cobra meeting focused on the government's response to record-breaking temperatures recorded over recent months. Official declarations show that nearly three-quarters of England and the entirety of Wales are currently gripped by drought conditions, creating highly volatile environments where fires can ignite and spread with alarming speed.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The Met Office has issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, forecasting temperatures to peak in the mid-to-high 30s across the Midlands and south-east of England, with extreme highs reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius.
"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."
Speaking during a visit to Stevenage, Burnham confirmed that restricting disposable barbecues was a measure the administration was certainly going to consider. However, he stopped short of specifying whether the potential government action would target retail sales restrictions or impose limitations on where the devices can be utilized.
The intersection of extreme heatwaves and prolonged droughts in the UK highlights the growing threat of climate change-induced natural disasters, shifting seasonal risks that traditionally affected drier Mediterranean climates into Northern Europe. As fire chiefs warn that wildfires are becoming a recurring fixture of local risk profiles, voluntary retail withdrawals and potential legislative bans illustrate the mounting urgency for structural prevention measures beyond simple public awareness campaigns.
Already, some major retailers have taken voluntary steps to halt the sale of single-use grills following warnings from fire authorities. Meanwhile, a Labour MP wrote to large retailers last week urging them to halt sales for the remainder of the summer, and the National Farmers Union has petitioned local councils to implement public space protection orders restricting their use in public spaces.
Source: BBC Politics
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