Ocado has stopped selling disposable barbeques with “immediate effect”
(Picture: PA Archive)Online grocery retailer Ocado is the latest to halt the sale of disposable barbeques amid wildfire warnings during this week’s heatwave.
In a statement it said: “Following the campaign by the London Fire Brigade, we’ve stopped selling disposable BBQs on Ocado with immediate effect.
“This is the right thing to do and we hope the remaining retailers will follow suit.”
It follows Aldi, The Co-Operative and Marks & Spencer who have also taken disposable barbeques off the shelves to reduce the risk of fires.
Last week M&S said: “We’d already stopped selling disposable BBQs near national parks and in London, but given the unusually hot and dry conditions, we’ve taken the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK”.
The Co-op announced in June last year it would no longer sell disposable barbecues in 130 shops situated in or within a one-mile radius of national parks, while in March this year Aldi said it would no longer sell the items in any of its UK supermarkets in a bid to protect the nation’s forests and wildlife.
A Sainsburys spokesperson told the Standard: “We offer customers choice, including a range of reusable portable barbecues across Sainsbury’s and Argos.
“All our disposable BBQ packaging includes clear safety warnings and extensive advice on how and where to safely use and dispose of the barbecue, which customers are encouraged to follow.”
Tesco and Asda have been approached for comment.
London Fire Brigade has warned residents to avoid using barbequing in parks or on balconies, because it is one of the most common ways grass fires start.
The brigade said it’s working with retailers to stop the sale of disposable barbeques. In a recent tweet, a video demonstration shows just how quickly they can lead to fire if used on a wooden deck.
This video from our colleagues at @DubFireBrigade shows just how hot disposable BBQs can get. This is why we're asking people not to BBQ in parks or on balconies and are working with retailers to stop the sale of disposable BBQs https://t.co/Ii4NDPwgzP
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 9, 2022
Cigarettes and glass are also common causes of grass fires and residents are urged not to throw cigarette butts out of car windows or leave glass bottles lying around.
Temperatures are set to reach 31C in London this week, as health officials issue an alert level 3 heatwave warning.
Meanwhile Thames Water is planning to announce a hosepipe ban “in the coming weeks” in the face of the long-term forecast of dry weather and hot temperatures this week, the company said.
The company, which supplies water to 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, said the “temporary-use” ban would be imposed as a result of “very hot temperatures” and a long-term forecast of dry weather.
