Disposable barbecues are BANNED over ‘significant fire risk’ after spate of monster blazes across the UK

DISPOSABLE barbeques have been temporarily banned due to the “significant risk” posed. The Government order has made after “apocalyptic” wildfires broke out across the West Midlands and parts of the rest of the UK yesterday. Aerial image captures the fire in Stourbridge Credit: SWNS A view of a burnt-out house Credit: Reuters Retailers and distributors have been warned against selling the products, with potential “criminal sanctions” for those who don’t comply. The new guidance, issued today by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, states: “Disposable barbecues have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “During the current drought and heatwave conditions, the government considers that the supply and subsequent foreseeable use of disposable barbecues poses a significant risk to the public, and the environment, and therefore cannot be considered a safe product. “They should not be made available for supply either in store or online at the current time. Where are the fires raging? AS temperatures soar, several huge wildfires are ravaging the UK, many consuming entire homes, cars and forests. Several blazes are burning in the West Midlands, including in: Stourbridge Around a hundred firefighters are tackling a massive, out-of-control grass and woodland fire on Racecourse Lane, right by the Stourbridge golf course. Multiple homes have caught fire. Salford Priors, Stratford-upon-Avon Another major incident has been declared as a blaze rages in Warwickshire. Druids HeathFire looks like it has broken out on land near Manningford Road and Pennyacre Road in the Druids Heath area of Birmingham. SolihullA localised outdoor blaze has broken out, drawing responsive fire apparatus to contain it before it spreads to adjacent hedges. In other parts of England, fires rage in: RainhamA car fire spread rapidly into the roadside grass fencing. The incident has caused traffic chaos, with Ferry Lane being closed both ways. Mousehold Heath, Norwich A major fire in woodland has sent plumes of smoke over Norwich and shut down roads in the city. And seven major wildfires are burning in South Wales, with hotspots including: Porth (Rhondda) A new fire is raging heavily next to residential properties, forcing crews to aggressively drench homes. Blaenavon (Cwmavon Woods) A massive hill and woodland blaze has been burning for days. Fires are also actively spreading through Merthyr Tydfil, Rudry Forestry, Mountain Ash (Cefn Pennar), and Newport. “These guidelines will be kept under review, and will be withdrawn in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham had suggested earlier in the week that such a measure could be introduced. Today he’s described the country as a “tinderbox” and said of the temporary ban: “We ask retailers to implement the ban in full until further notice.” He said his message to the public was not to light an open fire “of any kind” and to dispose of cigarettes carefully amid a “combustible” situation, adding: “You are taking risks with other people’s home, with other people’s lives, if you act recklessly.” Most read in The Sun Speaking in Stourbridge, he told reporters: “Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind. “We’re going to go into the rest of the weekend… This is not over by any means. “We’ve got 37 fires smouldering around the country, so it could be more. So please bear that in mind at all times.” He went on to say the Government will commission firefighting planes to combat the spread of wildfires. A blaze on a train line near Stourbridge Credit: 87027wolf/ X Enormous flames consumed a home in Stourbridge He said: “Firstly, we have seen the military deploy 100 personnel, initially to the major incident in South Wales, and we’re very grateful to our colleagues in the Ministry of Defence for that. That support is critically needed. “We have a system of mutual aid in play at the moment, where fire and rescue services are supporting each other, but with so many incidents, it is crucial that the military support is there if fire and rescue services can’t do the same backup that they would normally be doing. “So that is hugely appreciated. “The second issue is around aerial firefighting capability, the planes that people might see in other countries. “We have taken a decision to deploy nationally aerial firefighting support, so commissioned nationally. “But that obviously wasn’t available here, but it will be available elsewhere, and it would have made a difference.” Earlier today he praised firefighters working in “incredibly difficult conditions” in Stourbridge, as well as other blazes across the West Midlands and the UK fuelled by extreme heat and high winds. Six firefighters are among 25 people in hospital following the wildfires, beginning on Thursday afternoon – with families describing seeing ash “raining from the sky” as they grabbed their bags and fled. Mr Burnham wrote on X: “Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues. “My thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have been injured or forced from their homes, and with the firefighters who have been taken to hospital.” The PM also said he will be “speaking to emergency service on the ground”, as he paid tribute to the firefighters working through “incredibly difficult conditions” to bring the wildfires under control. He thanked emergency services, adding: “Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe.” Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Phil Garrigan told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “It’s not just the Stourbridge incident that we’ve dealt with over the last 24 hours. “We’ve had 11 major incidents declared across the UK – Stourbridge particularly, but Sandwell, Pershore, Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve got incidents still raging in Hampshire, in South Wales. “It’s been a particularly difficult, busy period for the fire and rescue service, where we’ve been under significant pressure. “Firefighters have been on the front line of climate change for a number of years. They’re doing their absolute best to protect communities and properties.” Asked whether people were being encouraged on social media to start fires, Mr Garrigan said: “If people are encouraged to, and when people take those kind of directions and start fires, and those fires have an impact that they’ve had in West Midlands – then the individuals who have caused those fires will find themselves behind bars. “I would be certainly discouraging them from taking any action and following any direction from anyone online, or anyone else for that matter.”