MPs call for barbecue bans and new firefighting aircraft to curb record wildfires

After an unprecedented summer of fires, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee declared wildfires a new reality for the UK and called for a comprehensive national response. Fire and rescue services have already tackled more than 1,300 incidents in England and Wales, exceeding the previous record set in 2025. Lawmakers urged the government to create a clear mechanism for imposing temporary bans on high-risk activities like disposable barbecues during peak danger periods, and to run consistent public-awareness campaigns modeled on Australian practice.

They also pressed for funding to expand the fleet of firefighting planes and to support volunteer fire-wardens in vulnerable landscapes. The committee stressed that a mix of land-management measures—including peatland restoration, rewetting, grazing, cutting and prescribed burning—must be tailored to local conditions. A government summit on wildfires is slated for this week, with ministers and fire-service leaders expected to discuss these recommendations.