Amid extreme heat in the UK, Andy Burnham announced a temporary ban on the sale and use of portable barbecue sets. This decision aims to reduce the threat of fires that have already spread in some areas of the United Kingdom amid the fifth wave of extreme heat, unusual for the local summer. A similar situation is observed in other European countries.
Burnham officially announced this initiative during a special meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, which took place during the day. The meeting discussed the consequences for health, safety, and the economy related to the current meteorological warning.
The warning about dangerous weather conditions continues to cover a significant part of England and all of Wales. Today, the temperature reached 35 degrees, and tomorrow, it is expected to reach record values in some places — over 38 degrees.
Record rainfall deficit and fire threat
Dry weather conditions and rainfall deficits, which reached unprecedented levels in the UK in July since records began in 1836, persist. In this regard, the authorities urge to limit the use of water and electricity.
The drought continues to contribute to the emergence of new fire outbreaks. The most serious fire in recent days, which broke out in the forest area of the New Forest natural park in the southern English county of Hampshire, was eventually “localized” by dozens of firefighters after several days of intense work. The fire destroyed about 160 hectares of vegetation.
According to: ANSA
