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Sat, 15 Aug 2026

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 Temporary ban on disposable BBQs as military deployed to help battle wildfires

Single-use grills pose a "significant risk to the public" in current drought and heatwave conditions, the government warns.

* Disposable barbecues have been linked to several serious wildfires across the country this summer, with 1,017 recorded incidents in England and Wales so far this year.
* The ban applies to both online and in-store sales of disposable barbecues until further notice.
* Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the UK as a "tinderbox" due to the ongoing heatwave and drought conditions.
* Military personnel have been deployed to assist fire services, with 200 personnel currently working on wildfires across the country.
* The government is also urging people not to light open fires or use fireworks during this period.
* Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has stated that the ban is a "common-sense" measure to protect lives and the environment.
* Some large retailers had already voluntarily stopped selling disposable barbecues due to heatwave warnings.
* Environmental group Friends of the Earth have called for action to tackle the root cause of the climate emergency driving this summer's extreme weather events.