Ban on barbecues as Andy Burnham calls in the military to battle Britain’s wildfires as he warned the crisis is ‘far from over’
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called in the military to help tackle wildfires across Britain, warning that the emergency is not yet over. A ban on disposable barbecues has been introduced amid fears that celebrations following A-level results may have contributed to some blazes, as exceptionally hot and dry conditions leave large areas vulnerable to fire.
Thirty-seven fires were still burning on Thursday night, including four classified as major incidents. In Stourbridge, investigators were examining whether a barbecue caused a fire near Quarry Park Road and Brunswick Gate, where 19 homes on a wealthy residential street were reportedly destroyed on the hottest day of the year.
- Military called in as wildfires continue across Britain
- Disposable barbecues banned amid fire-risk concerns
- Stourbridge fire destroyed 19 homes
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that a temporary ban on disposable barbecues is a proportionate public-safety measure when exceptionally dry conditions make a small flame capable of causing devastating fires. They would stress the protection of lives, homes, wildlife and emergency crews, and say clear restrictions are easier to understand and enforce than asking the public to judge varying local risks. In this view, preventing even a small number of avoidable ignitions outweighs the limited inconvenience of using alternative ways to cook outdoors.
The case against
Critics argue that a blanket ban may be overly broad if there is insufficient evidence that disposable barbecues are a major cause of the fires, particularly when many people use them responsibly. They would value personal responsibility and targeted action, such as restrictions in high-risk areas, stronger warnings and enforcement against reckless behaviour, rather than penalising everyone. They may also question whether the policy distracts from longer-term wildfire preparation, land management and emergency-resilience measures.