Andy Burnham visited Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where a wildfire ravaged more than 500 acres and devastated 19 properties, as he appealed to the public not to ignite fires in "tinderbox" Britain. In the town, he declared a temporary prohibition on disposable barbecues, and subsequently encouraged home cooks and gardeners to "take extra care" by avoiding lighting any fires "in gardens, the countryside or other open spaces, including parks, moorland and wooded areas", reports the Manchester Evening News.
Emergency alert triggered at request of fire officers
Millions of residents in England and Wales received an alert on their mobile phones on Friday evening, cautioning them of "a very high risk of wildfires nationally". Mr Burnham disclosed the emergency alert system was activated at the request of fire and rescue officers who have been tackling blazes across the country. Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh described the alert as "the most extensive use" of the UK's mobile phone alert system.
Revealing a suite of measures on Friday, Mr Burnham cautioned "Britain is a tinderbox right now" with "37 fires smouldering around the country". He also stated: "The temporary ban on barbecues, disposable barbecues, comes in today. All retailers will be receiving notification of that ban, and we ask them to, obviously, implement it in full until further notice when we can remove it." Those who smoke should "take great care" when disposing of cigarettes, he added.
Public urged to avoid any fire-starting activities
Following the distribution of the emergency alert, warning residents that they "should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks", Mr Burnham posted on X: "Please do not light any fires in gardens, the countryside or other open spaces, including parks, moorland and wooded areas. Our firefighters and emergency responders are working around the clock in incredibly difficult conditions."
The Prime Minister is also expected to announce a £65 million support package for farmers at the weekend, amidst concerns that hot, arid conditions could push up food costs in supermarkets. He is anticipated to say that "the ability to grow our own food is national security" and pledge to "treat it that way", adding that "farmers are at the sharp end of a changing climate, and they should not be carrying that risk alone".
Support package for farmers and political reaction
The fresh funding package will support environmentally sustainable food production practices through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), with an additional £50 million allocated for this year's budget – taking the total SFI funding to £290 million. Farmers will also receive £15 million in assistance for constructing on-farm reservoirs to ensure water supplies during future dry summers.
Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins hit out at Mr Burnham, claiming he "has been slow in realising that much of the country has been in drought for weeks, with terrible impacts for future food prices due to poor harvests". The Conservative frontbencher added: "In reality, Labour are overseeing record farm closures, cutting the farming budget by £100m and slapping new death and fertiliser taxes on family farms. Labour needs to work with the sector on winter forage, abolish the fertiliser tax and scrap its disastrous family farm and family business taxes to give farmers a fighting chance and slow rocketing food price inflation for the public."
Food producers have also raised the alarm that fruit, vegetable and grain supply chains have been disrupted by this summer's heatwaves.
