A new Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report released today (21 October) warns that summer 2026 exposed severe weaknesses in the UK’s preparedness and response to wildfires, adding it must be tackled before next spring.
As an indication of the scale of the issue, fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to over 1,300 wildfires so far this year, surpassing the total for the whole of 2025 - which was itself a record-breaking year.
New proposals
Among a list of new proposals, including specialist aircraft, greater public awareness and a broader national strategy, EFRA’s report also calls for “national, temporary restrictions” on disposable barbecues.
The committee’s chair, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: “Two consecutive, record-breaking years of wildfires should be ringing alarm bells in Westminster. We need to see government preparing for 2027 now. Failure to do so will leave us all exposed to more of the same next year and every year until it’s taken seriously.
“This report offers a catalogue of actions the Government must prioritise as we adapt to a changing climate, but it also tells the story of how these terrifying incidents leave deep scars, not just on our landscapes, but in the minds of rural communities whose voices tend to be excluded.
”Britain needs a cultural shift that puts us in step with fire-savvy nations such as Australia.”
“As the vast majority of fires are man-made, prevention is vital. Britain needs a cultural shift that puts us in step with fire-savvy nations such as Australia. We call for national restrictions on high-risk behaviours like disposable barbecues at the most dangerous points in the year, and enhanced weather warnings.
“More than anything else, government has got to start listening to and respecting the communities most directly affected by the blight of wildfires.”
Primary cause
The new report also notes human activity is the primary cause of wildfires, including through arson, littering, disposable barbecues and fires left unattended.
The risks are thought to be greatest in rural areas that attract visitors.
Experts suggested fire patrols of areas with high visitor numbers are highly effective at countering small fires before they develop.
However, this can entail a heavy personal burden. Volunteers asking for disposable barbecues to be safely put out have experienced abuse and threats, the report revealed.
The recommendation relating to these read: “The Government should establish a clear mechanism for introducing future nationwide restrictions on the sale of disposable barbecues during high-risk periods.
“By spring 2027, ministers should develop a public awareness campaign, including guidance on behaviours that cause wildfires, and how to report unsafe activities and suspected wildfires.”
Outright ban
A report released in June by the businesswaste.co.uk site reiterated calls for an “outright ban” of disposable barbecues,.
Its research found the product can still be bought easily online in 2026 - via some of the same supermarkets that vowed to remove them from stores - two of which have a combined 2,600 stores in the UK.
As Convenience Store also reported, the Government was forced to introduce regulations on the use of such products in August this year, in response to the wildfires throughout the summer.
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