Mayors urge ban on disposable BBQs following Fylingdales Moor wildfire
Call for stronger wildfire prevention measures
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Deputy Mayor Jo Coles have called for an end to the sale of disposable BBQs in response to the debrief on the Fylingdales Moor wildfire.
They say the fire, sparked by a naked flame, has underscored the need for significant actions to prevent future wildfires.
In a statement they said: “The Fylingdales Moor fire was a stark warning. Incidents of this scale can no longer be treated as rare or exceptional. The response from firefighters, farmers, landowners, volunteers, and local communities was outstanding, but we cannot rely on goodwill alone.”
They advocate for stronger resilience, coordination, and preventive measures: “The lessons from this incident are clear, we need stronger resilience, better coordination, and a more robust approach to preventing, responding to, and recovering from major wildfires.”
Regarding the source of the fire, they urge action against disposable BBQs: "As the risk of wildfires grows, so too must our preparedness. That’s why we are calling on all supermarkets to stop the sale of disposable BBQs in our region and are backing national calls for an all-out ban."