UK Supermarkets Pull Disposable Barbecues Amid Heatwave Wildfire Risk

Major UK retailers Asda, Tesco, Co‑op and Sainsbury’s have temporarily removed disposable barbecues from their stores and online platforms after the National Fire Chiefs Council issued voluntary guidance during a prolonged heatwave. The guidance, aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires that have already prompted more than 700 incidents across England and Wales this year, is in effect until the following Wednesday. Other chains such as Wilko and The Range have also taken the product off shelves, while Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and M&S have not sold disposable grills since 2022. Labour MP Jon Pearce welcomed the retailers’ actions and called for the guidance to become mandatory, urging the government to address the growing climate‑driven fire risk. Fire services continue to combat blazes in areas like Dunwich in Suffolk and the Rhondda Valley in Wales.