Disposable barbecues are under scrutiny as a potential source of wildfires sweeping across the United Kingdom. Government officials, including Andy Burnham, have indicated they may pursue restrictions on the devices. The National Farmers’ Union has called for an outright ban, citing the ongoing threat to both natural habitats and public safety.
Recent incidents have highlighted the dangers posed by disposable barbecues. In July, firefighters responded to a significant fire at Cannock Chase covering an area the size of a football field, damaging protected heathland habitat home to adders, toads, and ground-nesting nightjars. The same month, three separate fires erupted around London, with one affecting six hectares of heathland near residential areas. In May 2025, a fire in Scotland’s Glen Finglas region burned two hectares at a major Woodland Trust site, with a discarded barbecue still containing a burger on the grill identified as the probable cause.
Disposable barbecues present unique disposal challenges that complicate safety efforts. The charcoal trays can reach temperatures of 450 degrees Celsius and remain hot for hours after use. When left in public spaces, they either smolder in bins or are buried, where they continue burning underground and can ignite fires long after initial use. Metal grills and buried coals also pose hazards to beachgoers, farmers, and livestock.
Government research published previously indicated more than 1,600 fires were attributed to barbecues in England between 2020 and 2024, though the data did not distinguish between disposable and portable varieties. Some lawmakers have proposed partial restrictions rather than complete bans, suggesting that portable barbecues taken away after use could remain permitted. Environmental advocates have urged the government to address broader climate factors driving extreme temperatures and wildfires alongside any dispositional restrictions on barbecues.
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