PRIME Minister Andy Burnham has warned that “Britain is a tinderbox” as the country battles dozens of wildfires, with the effects of major blazes again being felt across the Forest of Dean.

Mr Burnham issued the stark warning on Friday, August 14 as the Government announced a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues across Great Britain amid exceptionally hot and dry conditions.

Speaking today, the Prime Minister urged the public to avoid doing anything which could spark an outdoor fire.

He said: “Please think about the situation we are in. Britain is a tinderbox right now. Setting a fire in any outdoor setting is a risk to people’s homes and other people’s lives.”

The warning will feel particularly close to home for residents of the Forest and Wye Valley after the smell of smoke was once again reported across the region on this morning (August 14).

It is the second time in less than a week that smoke from fires has been noticeable locally, following widespread reports across the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire on Sunday, August 9.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service deployed crews to investigate reports of smoke around the Forest of Dean that day, including in Berry Hill and Coleford.

No wildfire was found locally, with the smoke instead traced to a major moorland blaze near Llangynidr Reservoir in South Wales, more than 30 miles away.

Smoke and haze also affected Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye, while Monmouth Rowing Club was forced to cut short a training session because of the conditions.

The renewed smell of smoke on Friday morning came as firefighters continued to tackle a series of incidents across South Wales following days of exceptionally dry weather.

The scale of the crisis has prompted South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to request military assistance to strengthen its response, with crews, control staff and support teams working around the clock.

The national warning also comes just days after a grassland fire near Ross-on-Wye on Wednesday, August 12, providing another reminder of how quickly vegetation can ignite in the current conditions.

Wildfires across England and Wales have already reached record levels this year, with more incidents recorded than during the whole of 2025.

Mr Burnham said there were 37 fires burning across Britain and warned that hotter and drier than normal conditions could continue through September and into October.

The Government has also said disposable barbecues should not currently be considered safe given the conditions, while people have been urged to dispose of cigarettes carefully and avoid lighting fires outdoors.