UK government temporarily stops disposable barbecue sales as wildfires spread
Ministers have ordered a short-term halt to disposable barbecue sales and sent military support to help firefighters tackle blazes across Britain.
The UK government has temporarily banned the sale of disposable barbecues and deployed military personnel to assist with wildfire response as hot, dry conditions raise fire risk across Britain. Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged people not to endanger homes or lives.
Burnham said the country was facing tinderbox conditions while speaking in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, where fires had damaged several homes and sent at least 19 people to hospital, according to the government briefing cited by The Guardian.
The prime minister also said fire and rescue services would receive extra funding as crews continued to deal with multiple outbreaks. The measures were announced as officials sought to reduce the chance of further fires over the weekend.
The ban applies across Great Britain and is temporary, with the government framing it as part of a wider response to the surge in wildfire incidents.
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