UK bans disposable barbecues, sends military to wildfires

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a temporary nationwide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues and the deployment of military personnel on Friday, August 14, 2026, as part of an emergency response to widespread wildfires and extreme drought conditions gripping the country. Speaking from Stourbridge in the hard-hit West Midlands, where a recent fire destroyed 19 homes, Burnham declared that Britain is "a tinderbox right now" and outlined the measures decided during a meeting of the government's emergency COBRA committee earlier in the week.

The ban, which applies to England, Scotland, and Wales but not Northern Ireland, requires all retailers to immediately cease the sale of disposable barbecues and grills, both in-store and online, until further notice. The government stated that these products "cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions." The announcement was met with support from fire services and local authorities. A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said, "We welcome news of this temporary ban and continue to urge people not to use disposable barbecues." The service had been dealing...