New Forest District Council has said government measures announced (Friday 14 August 2026) to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues nationally will add further protection against wildfire risk in the New Forest, Hampshire, complementing existing local measures at a time when the emergency response to a heathland fire, which started on Sunday 9th August 2026 affecting more than 100 hectares, continues into its seventh day, and the risk of fire remains high.
New Forest District Council says government measures, announced on Friday 14 August 2026 to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues nationally, will add further protection against wildfire risk in the New Forest alongside an existing Public Spaces Protection Order.
The move complements existing local measures as the emergency response continues to a heathland fire that began on Sunday 9 August and affected more than 100 hectares.
The government’s decision to temporarily ban the sale of disposable barbecues, amid continuing hot, dry conditions and an increased risk of wildfires across the country, will support a Public Spaces Protection Order, in place in the New Forest since 2023, which prohibits fires, barbecues, fire pits and outdoor cooking equipment.
The statutory guidance issued by the government states that disposable barbecues should not be sold in stores or online as they pose a significant risk to public safety and the environment under current hot and dry weather conditions.
Councillor Jill Cleary, Leader of New Forest District Council, said:
“I welcome the government’s decision to ban the sale of disposable barbecues, especially as it comes at a time when emergency services are continuing to respond to the major heathland fire in the New Forest.
“We have long recognised the risks posed by barbecues and open fires in the New Forest, which is why local restrictions are already in place with a Public Spaces Protection Order.
“The devastating heathland fire we have seen in the New Forest over the past week is a stark reminder of how quickly fires can spread when conditions are dry. While the current incident was not caused by a disposable barbecue, it demonstrates the scale of damage that can occur once a fire takes hold.”
NFDC used its statutory powers in 2023, following consultation and evidence from partners including Forestry England and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, to introduce the order which prohibits fires, barbecues, including disposable barbecues, and other outdoor cooking equipment in specified areas of the open Forest, as well as the placing, throwing or dropping of items likely to cause a fire.
The order was extended by the Council earlier this year and is now in place until June 2029.
Enforcement of the PSPO is carried out by trained partners, including Forestry England, with the Council continuing to work with partners to support compliance and awareness.
- NFDC is liaising with Trading Standards colleagues at Hampshire County Council, which has powers to enforce the government’s barbecue sales ban. NFDC is also encouraging people visiting the New Forest to follow wildfire prevention advice from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service:
- Do not light campfires or fires in the countryside.
- Do not use barbecues, fire pits or outdoor cooking equipment in the New Forest countryside.
- Take extreme care with smoking materials and ensure they are fully extinguished.
- Do not light bonfires during dry weather.
- Take litter home and dispose of waste responsibly.
- Do not park on dry grass, as hot vehicle components can ignite vegetation.
People are being told not to travel to the fire-affected area to view the incident, and to allow the emergency services to continue their work.
While the fire is actively being managed by firefighters, it remains an ongoing incident and risk.