Temporary ban on sale of disposable BBQs over wildfire risk

The government has temporarily prohibited the sale of disposable barbecues due to the heightened wildfire risk during the ongoing drought and heatwave in Great Britain, as reported by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade. The ban is a response to the numerous serious wildfires that have occurred across the country this summer, many of which have been attributed to the use of disposable barbecues.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned the public about the current dangerous conditions, referring to Britain as a "tinderbox." Four wildfires are currently being treated as major incidents in England and Wales. The prime minister emphasized the need for caution, urging retailers to follow guidance on the matter, which will be continuously monitored.

Burnham highlighted that while not all fires are directly linked to disposable barbecues, some have been, and he stressed the importance of considering the current precarious situation. An emergency Cobra meeting had previously discussed the possibility of the ban, with large retailers and supermarkets voluntarily discontinuing sales of disposable barbecues in response to extreme heat events or credible requests from local councils, as per an agreement established in 2023.