Disposable BBQs temporarily banned from sale due to 'tinderbox' weather conditions following Portsmouth's suit
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Cooking equipment involving open flames have been banned from various parts of Southsea
Disposable barbeques have been temporarily banned from sale across the country.
The government has taken the measure as they pose a “significant risk to the public” due to current heatwave conditions. Portsmouth City Council took the decision to ban these appliances on a temporary basis on Thursday (August 13).
Equipment involving naked flames cannot be used in Canoe Lake Park and various streets surrounding Southsea Common, including Clarence Esplanade, Clarence Parade, Avenue de Caen and Serpentine Road.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade told the BBC that the product has caused "a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months". It added that disposable barbecues "cannot be considered a safe product" in the current conditions and they "must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time" in Great Britain.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said supermarkets and retailers will be receiving guidance about the change. He added: “Britain is a tinderbox right now. Setting a fire in any outdoor setting of any kind is a risk to other people's homes, it's a risk to other people's lives, don't do it, please don't do it."
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) amber heat health alert has been extended until Saturday for the south east of England and other parts of the country.
They warned that high temperatures “may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups”. Acting consultant in public health Polly Ashmore said: “Drinking plenty of water, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day and keeping indoor spaces cool are all things you can do to keep yourself and others safe.
“We urge health and social care services to ensure they are prepared and encourage people to check on vulnerable friends and family to make sure everyone is aware of the forecast, follows the necessary advice and stays safe in this period of hot weather.”
The intense heat has made 2026 the first year on record to see three separate days where temperatures reached the 37C threshold, as well as the first year with four days at 36C or above, and extends 2026’s record-breaking run of days above 35C. On June 24, temperatures in Gosport reached a 36.1C - which was then a record at the time.
It is the fifth heatwave in a summer which has also been marked by extremely dry weather and drought for much of England and Wales.