Andy Burnham has confirmed that the government is examining a possible ban on disposable barbecues as wildfire danger intensifies following this summer's prolonged droughts. Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said single-use grills had contributed to several recent blazes and urged the public to avoid using them for now. His comments came as he chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on 7 August 2026 to address the government's response to record-breaking temperatures.
Burnham told reporters a ban on disposable barbecues was something ministers would "certainly going to consider" as part of a wider push to reduce fire risk across the countryside.
"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," he said.
He stopped short of clarifying whether the government was leaning towards an outright sales restriction or simply tighter rules on where the devices could be used.
How severe is the current drought and heat situation?
Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales have now been formally classified as being in drought, conditions that significantly raise the likelihood of fires spreading quickly. The Met Office has issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, forecasting temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s across the Midlands and south-east of England, with a peak of 38C possible in some areas. Fire crews responded to 393 wildfires across England and Wales in July 2026 alone, making it the busiest month for such incidents on record.
Have retailers already acted on their own?
Several major retailers had already pulled disposable barbecues from their shelves before Thursday's announcement, following repeated warnings from fire chiefs about the risks they pose in dry conditions. According to a report from the Mirror, every major UK supermarket has now stopped selling the devices, with Asda and Lidl the latest chains to remove them from sale. A Labour MP had separately written to large retailers last week asking them to halt sales of disposable barbecues for the remainder of the summer, while the National Farmers Union has pressed local councils to introduce public space protection orders limiting their use in parks and open land.
What has the government said about a ban previously?
Ministers have historically resisted calls for a nationwide prohibition. In July 2025, the government told Parliament it had "no plans to ban disposable barbeques," pointing out that councils already have the power to impose local restrictions on council-owned or public land. The British Retail Consortium's own guidance, cited in that parliamentary response, advises retailers to restrict sales during extreme heat events, periods of heightened fire risk, or when requested to do so by local authorities. More recently, in early August 2026, farmers and landowners renewed their push for a temporary ban across England and Wales, though the government maintained at the time that a blanket prohibition remained off the table, according to reporting on the renewed calls.
This latest Cobra meeting is the second convened this year specifically over heatwave conditions, following one held in June amid an earlier spell of high temperatures. It follows separate criticism from Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who accused Labour of a "dereliction of duty" over its handling of heatwaves, wildfires and water policy. Elsewhere, wildfire prevention measures have already been tested elsewhere in the UK: the Cairngorms National Park introduced a by-law in April 2026 banning camp fires and barbecues until 30 September each year, with fines of up to £500 for breaches.
Who else attended Thursday's Cobra meeting?
The meeting brought together ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Home Office and the Department for Health, along with representatives from the Environment Agency. A No 10 spokesperson said the government recognised that firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all under pressure because of the extreme weather. Fire chiefs have separately warned that wildfires are becoming a "recurring and growing feature of the risks facing our communities" as the climate changes.
What happens next?
A public petition calling for a UK-wide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues remains open for signatures until 15 December 2026, according to the official parliamentary petitions site, after which point it will close and any response from the government would be assessed based on the level of support it received. Burnham gave no timeline for when a decision on a formal ban might be reached.
- Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting on 7 August 2026 over the UK's heatwave and wildfire risk.
- Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are officially in drought.
- July 2026 was the busiest month on record for wildfires in England and Wales, with 393 incidents.
- All major UK supermarkets, including Asda and Lidl, have now stopped selling disposable barbecues.
- A parliamentary petition for a UK-wide ban remains open for signatures until 15 December 2026.
