Andy Burnham warns all smokers amid disposable BBQ ban

The ban comes as the UK suffers from several wildfires following a handful of heatwaves, resulting in very dry grass and a bigger fire risk across the country.

The PM said the ban – which applies to Wales, Scotland and England, but not Northern Ireland – would be in place from today “until further notice”.

It’s not just people spending time outside picnicking and having BBQs that need to be careful, with Mr Burnham also issuing a message to all smokers.

Andy Burnham issues warning to all smokers across the UK amid disposable BBQ ban

Andy Burnham warned smokers against lighting up outdoors and urged them to dispose of cigarettes carefully.

It comes as West Midlands Fire Service shared a Facebook post earlier this month telling smokers to make sure they have completely stubbed out their cigarettes.

The post is accompanied by a poster that shows a cigarette butt that hasn’t been entirely stubbed out and is lying on some grass.

The fire service said: “It only takes one carelessly discarded cigarette to spark a grass fire.

“With hot, dry conditions increasing the risk of fires, please make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before disposing of them.

“Never throw them from a vehicle or leave them on the ground.

“A small act of care can prevent a fire that spreads quickly, threatening people, wildlife and property.

“If you smoke, stub it out. Every time.”

🔥 Most wildfires are started by people, but drought conditions can make them much worse. Drier vegetation provides more fuel, helping fires grow larger and more severe.

Read our blog post to find out more: https://t.co/qvexqwfcAM pic.twitter.com/iPt3L6IJCM

— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 14, 2026

More wildfires have now struck England and Wales in 2026 so far than in the whole of 2025.

The latest spate of blazes in the West Midlands has led to people fleeing their homes to get out of the path of encroaching fires.

West Midlands Fire Service’s Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill said 19 houses have been fully destroyed and 18 damaged by the wildfire in Stourbridge this week.

Speaking as he visited houses in Stourbridge which had been destroyed by wildfire, the Prime Minister said: “The temporary ban on barbecues, disposable barbecues, comes in today.

“All retailers will be receiving notification of that ban, and we ask them to, obviously, implement it in full until further notice when we can remove it.”

He also told reporters: “I would also want to say to the public, you can see what’s happening: 37 significant fires across England and Wales.

“Please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind.

🚨 BREAKING: Several homes in the West Midlands are on fire as the UK faces extreme heat pic.twitter.com/DFCRVXIFX2

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) August 13, 2026

“If you’re disposing of a cigarette, take great care.

“This is obviously a really combustible situation, literally.

“We need to respect that fact and make sure that no one is taking any risk, because you’re taking risks with other people’s homes, with other people’s lives if you act recklessly in this moment.”

The Prime Minister added: “Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind.”

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