The ondon fire chief has called for a “total ban” on disposable barbecues as the capital braces for a possible second heat wave in the summer.
The warning comes after the London The fire brigade (LFB) experienced the “busiest week” in history last week.
Fire Commissioner of London Andy Roe said “urgent action” was needed to enact a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, which he warned could cause “incalculable damage”.
Firefighters attended more than 1,000 fires in the week of July 18 as temperatures soared, taking more than twice as many calls as normal and tackling an unprecedented number of large grassland fires.
During that period, the brigade received 8,302 calls, compared to an average of 450 calls per day.
Mr Roe said people were behaving “carelessly” and “recklessly” despite warnings about grass fires.
On Saturday, July 23, firefighters prevented a serious fire in Wanstead Flats, east London, caused by a disposable barbecue.
Mr Roe said disposable barbecues “can be bought for as little as £5 and can do untold damage, especially when the grass is as dry as it has been in recent weeks”.
He added: “Last week is another example of how we are increasingly challenged by new extreme weather events as our climate changes and we are developing long-term strategies to deal with more such incidents in the future.”
waitroseAldi and other retailers have announced that they will no longer stock disposable barbecues due to their harmful impact on the environment and wildlife.
The UK experienced a heat wave last week with a record high of 40.3C in Coningsby, Lincolnshirelast Tuesday.
The fire service had its busiest day since World War II due to extreme temperatures, taking 2,670 calls and being present at 1,146 incidents.
A total of 16 houses were lost in the great fire in Wennington, east London, and the crew had to fight to save the fire station itself from the flames.
The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned British cities to prepare for bushfires after dozens of “unprecedented” fires broke out during last week’s record-breaking temperatures.
Firefighters also shared tips on how to avoid grass fires, including not having barbecues on balconies, parks and public areas.