Andy Burnham has urged retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale immediately to reduce the risk of wildfires during the ongoing heatwave.Calling on "all retailers big and small" to withdraw the products, the Prime Minister warned that the severe weather conditions "could be with us for some weeks yet".The warning came following a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee, convened to coordinate the response to the prolonged spell of hot and dry weather.Fires across England and Wales have already equalled the total recorded across the entirety of 2025.Data from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) shows that 1,017 wildfires have been logged in England and Wales so far this year, matching the record set last year.In line with voluntary guidance issued by the NFCC, the majority of major UK supermarkets have already halted sales of disposable barbecues over recent weeks.Warning posters about starting wildfires on display in North Yorkshire (Richard McCarthy/PA)Mr Burnham called on all remaining stockists to stop selling them, noting that a complete ban during future summers could be considered.He said: "The big risk in terms of risk to the wider regions across the country is the risk of wildfires. What we are seeing is multiple serious incidents across the country."Fire services, by and large, are supporting each other through mutual aid to deal with those incidents but we are keeping a very close watching brief on them."There is advice to the public here not to use disposable barbecues. We have today confirmed through the National Fire Chiefs Council that the framework restricting the retail sale of those disposable barbecues is being extended."Now I would ask all retailers big and small to adhere to that framework."Longer term we will look at whether a temporary ban in the summer months is justified."Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated a ban on the sale of barbecues during the summer months could be considered in future (Kin Cheung/PA)Highlighting a "significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already", the Prime Minister urged the public to heed health guidance and check on vulnerable friends and elderly relatives.When asked whether planned drilling in remaining North Sea fossil fuel deposits remained appropriate given climate change concerns, Mr Burnham said: "It is really important that we deal today with the situation that we are in right now and we focus on making sure that we have the serious incidents under control across the country, and those incidents are under control."He later added: "The bigger questions obviously will come at the right moment in time."But I have said that we have had it all but confirmed that this is the hottest summer on record, and as we go through it, we need to realise that these conditions could be with us for some weeks yet."There is some rain forecast, but not necessarily rain that will change the situation fundamentally. So we are looking at a dry prospect going forward."Fire authorities cautioned that the sustained absence of rain and intense heat have turned parts of the country into a "tinderbox".Crosland Heath Golf Club in Huddersfield showing dry parched grass on the fairway and a lush putting green (Ashley Broadley/PA)NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan told PA: "Most wildfires in the UK are caused because of human behaviours, careless, accidental or unfortunately intentional acts."But as climate change brings more frequent periods of hot, dry weather, the conditions for wildfires are becoming more dangerous, increasing their scale and intensity."Hot, dry weather and drought are turning parts of the UK into tinderbox landscapes, allowing fires to spread faster, burn longer and place greater pressure on fire and rescue services."Almost three-quarters of England alongside the whole of Wales are currently in drought, putting significant pressure on water supplies for households, farming and the environment. Temperatures in parts of England are projected to reach 38C on Thursday.A key climate adviser warned that conditions will "get worse from here" until global warming emissions—primarily from burning fossil fuels in power plants, transport, home heating and industry—are brought to net zero.Baroness Brown, who chairs adaptation work at the independent Climate Change Committee, told PA: "We need to remember that this is as good as it gets."It gets worse from here. Until we get to net zero, things go on getting worse."Over 1,000 wildfires have been logged in England and Wales so far this year (PA Graphics)She also appealed to the Government to take action to adapt the UK to rising temperatures, such as introducing air conditioning in hospitals, schools, and homes for vulnerable families.Amid the latest spell of extreme weather, rare amber "extreme heat" warnings have been put in place by the Met Office for London and regions across the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.In response to the severe conditions, Southern Water has applied for an emergency drought order to restrict non-essential commercial water usage, including vehicle washing and filling non-domestic swimming pools. The utility company cited an "exceptional" lack of rainfall threatening supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, warning that 165,000 customers in the Southampton West area could face restrictions.Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will make the final decision on the application, which would mark the first such restriction introduced since May 2006.