Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called on “all retailers big and small” to stop selling disposable barbecues as the UK faces a continued risk of wildfires during an extended period of extreme heat. The appeal, made late on Wednesday, follows a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee, which he chaired in response to the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.
Retailers urged to follow extended framework
Mr Burnham, who is also the MP for Makerfield, warned that extreme heat conditions “could be with us for some weeks yet”. His comments come as most major UK supermarkets have already suspended sales of disposable barbecues in recent weeks, following voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
Speaking after the Cobra meeting, Mr Burnham said: “The big risk in terms of risk to the wider regions across the country is the risk of wildfires. What we are seeing is multiple serious incidents across the country. Fire services by and large are supporting each other through mutual aid to deal with those incidents, but we are keeping a very close watching brief on them.”
Government extends retail restrictions
He confirmed that the framework restricting the retail sale of disposable barbecues is being extended, and he urged all businesses to comply. “There is advice to the public here not to use disposable barbecues. We have today confirmed through the National Fire Chiefs Council that the framework restricting the retail sale of those disposable barbecues is being extended. Now I would ask all retailers big and small to adhere to that framework,” he said.
Mr Burnham also indicated that a longer-term solution is under consideration, stating: “Longer term we will look at whether a temporary ban in the summer months is justified.”
Heat-related deaths and public health advice
The Prime Minister told broadcasters that there had been a “significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already”. He urged the public to follow health advice, including to “check in on elderly friends and relatives who may need support at this particular moment in time”.
When asked about the case for drilling the outstanding North Sea fossil fuel deposits given the impact of climate change, Mr Burnham replied: “It is really important that we deal today with the situation that we are in right now and we focus on making sure that we have the serious incidents under control across the country, and those incidents are under control.”
He later added: “The bigger questions obviously will come at the right moment in time. But I have said that we have had it all but confirmed that this is the hottest summer on record, and as we go through it, we need to realise that these conditions could be with us for some weeks yet. There is some rain forecast, but not necessarily rain that will change the situation fundamentally. So we are looking at a dry prospect going forward.”
