The prime minister, Andy Burnham, announced on 15 August 2026 a temporary Great Britain-wide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues and confirmed the military would be deployed to assist firefighting crews as dozens of wildfires burned across the country. Speaking from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where at least 19 people were taken to hospital during a large grass fire, Burnham urged the public not to risk lives and homes in what he described as "tinderbox" conditions this weekend.
What exactly did the prime minister announce?
Burnham confirmed that, from today, retailers across Britain are being asked to withdraw disposable barbecues from sale, both in physical shops and online, as part of an emergency measure to reduce the risk of further blazes. He said the step was necessary given the scale of the danger, calling the ongoing wildfires "absolutely devastating".
"Please think about the situation we are in. Britain is a tinderbox right now. Setting a fire in any outdoor setting is a risk to people's homes and other people's lives."
He acknowledged that not every one of the 37 fires recorded across Britain could be traced to barbecue use, but said it was "probable" that some had started that way.
Why has this measure been introduced now?
Government guidance published alongside the announcement stated that single-use grills had already caused serious damage this summer.
"Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time."
The guidance added that the devices had "been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months." This latest step builds on earlier government pressure: officials had already ordered a temporary halt to disposable barbecue sales before this weekend's formal nationwide ban, after Burnham had previously said he was weighing a ban amid escalating wildfire risk during the ongoing drought and heatwave.
Had retailers already acted on their own?
Yes. According to a report by Travel Tomorrow, several major supermarkets, including Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, had already paused or withdrawn disposable barbecue sales before the government's latest intervention. Campaigners and landowners had been pressing for tighter controls for weeks amid mounting wildfire risk, according to earlier reporting.
How severe is the situation on the ground?
The wildfire crisis has already stretched fire services thin, with a blaze in the New Forest having burned roughly one square kilometre of heathland and forcing the closure of the A31, according to our earlier coverage of that four-day battle. In Stourbridge, at least 19 people required hospital treatment amid the fire that prompted Burnham's visit.
What further support is being offered to fire services?
Burnham said plans were being drawn up to provide emergency financial support to fire services tackling the spread of wildfires, warning that the coming weekend would be difficult and that unusually hot, dry conditions could persist through September and into October. He added that a drier-than-normal autumn could then raise the risk of flooding once wetter weather returns.
The prime minister also said he intended to commission firefighting aircraft similar to those used in parts of Europe and the United States to help combat the spread of blazes, arguing that the country needed to "face up" to a "changing climate".
Is the government facing wider criticism over its climate response?
Burnham has faced criticism for not addressing the broader climate emergency more directly, even as his government considers whether to permit further North Sea drilling at the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, a move environmental groups argue is at odds with the current climate crisis. Asked about his priorities, Burnham said the focus was on building resilience and adapting to the growing threat of fires and floods, alongside a broader shift toward clean energy.
"We won't be able to stop using oil and gas for some time, that's just a fact."
Separately, environmental campaigners have also called for restrictions on grouse shooting season as wildfires spread across UK moorlands, with some London chefs reporting smaller and scarcer birds linked to record heat and land management practices, according to earlier reporting on the grouse season debate.
What happens next?
According to ITV's coverage of an earlier emergency Cobra meeting, Burnham said the government would also examine whether a longer-term, temporary summer ban on disposable barbecues might be justified beyond the immediate emergency measure, with the current advice being extended through the National Fire Chiefs Council framework. He reportedly urged "retailers big and small" to remove the products from sale and warned that extreme heat conditions "could be with us for some weeks yet". Separate reporting by Yahoo News indicated the voluntary guidance is designed to apply either when extreme heat is imminent or in response to evidence-based requests from local councils. No firm date has yet been given for a decision on a longer-term ban.
Key Facts
- A temporary Great Britain-wide ban on disposable barbecue sales took effect on 15 August 2026.
- At least 19 people were hospitalised following a wildfire in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
- 37 wildfires were recorded across Britain, with some probably linked to barbecue use.
- The military has been brought in to assist firefighting efforts.
- Major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Aldi had already withdrawn disposable barbecues from sale before the government ban.
