Lead

Andy Burnham has said the government will consider banning disposable barbecues as wildfires continue to rage across the UK. The move comes as farmers, landowners, and firefighters call for a temporary ban in England and Wales, warning of the risk of igniting wildfires during dry conditions.

The call is backed by the Liberal Democrats and many Labour MPs, according to reports. The deputy president of the National Farmers Union, Tompkins, urged retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale and local authorities to issue public space protection orders prohibiting the lighting of barbecues, campfires, and camping stoves.

"A stray match or single spark, and months of hard work can be wiped out in just minutes; crops destroyed and harvest ruined, vital machinery and infrastructure damaged and livestock put at serious risk," Tompkins said. "Beyond the immediate losses, there could be long-term consequences for soil health, grassland productivity and confidence of farm businesses already facing significant pressures."

Coverage Comparison

Two articles from The Guardian provide the coverage of this story. One focuses on the environmental concerns and the urgent risk of wildfires, emphasizing the climate crisis and human carelessness as causes. The other centers on the government's response, with a critical tone regarding the prime minister's failure to link the fires more broadly to climate change.

The first article highlights the widespread impact of wildfires, noting that they have affected every region of the UK this year, with more than 20,000 hectares estimated to have burned. It also details specific incidents, such as a wildfire in the Rhondda Valley in Wales and fires in the Cairngorms.

The second article provides more detail on the dangers of disposable barbecues, explaining that they remain hot for hours after use, can reach 450C when buried, and have been identified as the cause of several serious fires, including a large woodland fire in Macclesfield, Cheshire, in July 2026.

Key Claims

  • Farmers and landowners are calling for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales, as they warn of the risk of igniting wildfires.
  • The call is backed by the Liberal Democrats and many Labour MPs.
  • Wildfires have affected every region of the UK this year, with more than 20,000 hectares estimated to have burned.
  • The National Farmers Union is warning of the risk of igniting wildfires due to dry conditions.
  • The deputy president of the National Farmers Union is calling for retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale and for local authorities to issue public space protection orders.
  • The government will look at banning disposable barbecues as wildfires continue to rage across the UK.
  • Disposable barbecues have been the cause of a number of serious fires over the last few years.
  • Research for the government found more than 1,600 fires were caused by barbecues in England from 2020 to 2024.
  • The Greenpeace political campaigner is calling for the government to address the fossil-fuelled elephant in the room that is driving extreme temperatures.

Perspectives

Government

Andy Burnham, on behalf of the government, indicated a willingness to consider banning disposable barbecues, responding to the ongoing wildfire crisis.

Farmers and Firefighters

Farmers, landowners, and firefighters are pushing for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues, emphasizing the severe risks to agriculture, wildlife, and public safety. They have called on retailers to stop selling the products and on local authorities to implement restrictions.

Greenpeace

A Greenpeace political campaigner urged the government to go beyond a simple ban and address the underlying climate crisis, which they argue is the "fossil-fuelled elephant in the room" driving extreme temperatures.