Staffordshire fire service welcomes temporary disposable barbeque sale ban amid unprecedented demand

Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service has welcomed the announcement of a temporary national ban on the sale of disposable barbeques.

The announcement by the government comes as the fire service continues to experience unprecedented demand across Staffordshire, with crews called to 600 outdoor fires last month, an average of 20 incidents per day.

The service said it was almost double the demand that it had faced last year.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Jim Bywater, said: "This summer has already been extremely demanding for our firefighters, and our resources are stretched to the limit.

"Disposable barbeques are one of the biggest outdoor fire risks, especially during periods of warm weather and limited rainfall like we have experienced recently, so we are welcoming of the government's temporary national ban.

"They are already banned in many areas such as Cannock Chase, as they can rapidly spread out of control and can ignite the ground easily.

"We need everyone to do their bit in helping us keep Staffordshire safe this summer, including adhering to disposable barbeque bans and enjoying the countryside responsibly.

"We're also continuing to work closely with our colleagues at Staffordshire Police to act against those ignoring these bans or starting deliberate fires, which can have catastrophic consequences for local communities, wildlife and green spaces across the county.

“Three people have already been arrested in connection with a series of recent fires and a number of investigations are ongoing.”