The Government has issued a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues in response to the ongoing heatwave, following a series of devastating fires across the West Midlands that have destroyed homes and forced residents to evacuate.
The decision comes after fires in Stourbridge, Castle Vale, and Highters Heath, where homeowners were forced to flee their properties. Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Stourbridge on Friday afternoon to speak with affected locals and walk through the Black Country town.
Government cites wildfire risk
In advice published online, the Government stated that single-use grills “have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months.” The statement added: “Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.”
The ban applies to both in-store and online sales, but it is unclear how long it will remain in place. Earlier in the week, Burnham had suggested that such a measure could be introduced.
Residents describe terrifying scenes
Residents in Stourbridge told BirminghamLive about their experiences. A woman evacuated from her home described how fire “jumped the railway” moments before they were forced to flee. Another resident, Shirley, said she woke up to her home smelling of smoke: “The bungalow I live in just stinks of smoke. I got up this morning and it still smells like smoke.”
Crews also tackled severe fires in Castle Vale and Highters Heath, where homeowners were also forced to evacuate. The full extent of the damage and the number of homes affected has not yet been confirmed.
The temporary ban is part of a broader response to the heatwave conditions, with the Government urging caution to prevent further wildfires. Local newsletters, including Black Country News, MySolihull, and MySuttonColdfield, are providing updates on the situation.
