The UK government has implemented a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, warning that the products pose a “significant risk to the public” as the country faces persistent drought and extreme heat. Officials stated that these single-use grills have been responsible for “a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months.”
The measure follows discussions held during an emergency Cobra meeting earlier this week, which addressed the dangers posed by record-breaking temperatures. In addition to the sales ban, authorities have urged the public to refrain from lighting any open fires and to exercise extreme caution when disposing of cigarettes.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the current state of the nation as being like “a tinderbox.” The warning comes as fire crews in the West Midlands continue to combat multiple blazes for a second consecutive day.
