Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for an immediate, temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues across Great Britain. The move comes as emergency services struggle to contain multiple wildfires that have damaged homes and resulted in at least 19 hospitalizations in the West Midlands. Burnham, speaking from the site of the fires in Stourbridge, described the current environmental conditions as a "tinderbox" and urged the public to exercise extreme caution to prevent further loss of life or property.

In addition to the retail ban, the government has authorized military assistance to support local fire crews. While the directive asks retailers to voluntarily withdraw disposable barbecues from their shelves, the government has framed the measure as a necessary step to curb the frequency of fires during the current heatwave. The situation remains fluid as authorities monitor the impact of the high temperatures on fire safety across the country.