Firefighters in London are urging the public to remain cautious despite the drop in temperatures following a busy week for crews and Control Officers.
Last week (09 - 16 August), London Fire Brigade’s Control Officers took over 9,000 emergency calls, mobilising firefighters to over 4,000 incidents.
The Brigade’s Control Room took 1,782 emergency calls related to grass fires, 1,344 of which were reported by people in London with the remaining 438 taken on behalf of other fire and rescue services as part of national resilience arrangements in which each fire and rescue service can support each other during periods of pressure on their emergency call operators.
The busiest day was Thursday 13 August, when temperatures peaked at 35 degrees Celsius and Control Officers took 2,081 emergency calls. This included 754 calls taken in support of Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Service as they dealt with a major incident in Stourbridge and a further 100 calls taken in support of Mid and West Wales Fire Control, Warwickshire Fire Control and North West Fire Control.
With temperatures dropping this week, the Brigade is warning Londoners against complacency around preventing grass fires.
Assistant Commissioner Pamela Oparaocha said: “During last week’s heatwave, our Control Officers worked exceptionally hard, speaking to thousands of Londoners in need of our help, as well as callers nationwide. With many of our green spaces backing onto homes and infrastructure, our firefighters have made tremendous efforts in difficult conditions to keep Londoners safe from grass fires.
“Despite the drop in temperatures this week, London’s parks and green spaces are still extremely dry, so the risk of grass fires remains high. Our message to Londoners is not to become complacent - avoid the use of barbecues, dispose of cigarettes safely and don’t light bonfires.
“We also want to reassure Londoners that despite the increased demands upon our Control Room and firefighters, we remain fully prepared and resourced to deal with callouts to any emergency across the capital.”
Incidents attended by four or more fire engines last week
- A boat fire on Springwell Lane in Harefield, attended by six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. (15/08)
- A grass fire in Hornchurch Country Park, attended by fourteen fire engines and around 90 firefighters. (14/08)
- A hotel fire on Empire Way in Wembley, attended by six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. (14/08)
- A grass fire near the A13 in Wennington, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters. (13/08)
- A grass fire near Commonside East in Mitcham, attended by eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters. (13/08)
- A grass fire near Sandy Lane in Orpington, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters. (13/08)
- A fire on an industrial estate on Ripple Road in Barking, attended by twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters. (12/08)
- A grass fire in Perivale Park in Greenford, attended by six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. (12/08)
- A grass fire near Beddington Lane in Mitcham, attended by eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters. (10/08)
- A grass fire near Laurel Lane in West Drayton, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters. (10/08)
- A grass fire near Martens Avenue in Bexleyheath, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters. (10/08)
- A trackside fire in Lewisham, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters (09/08)
- A grass fire near Berwick Pond Road in Rainham, attended by six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. (09/08)
- A grass fire near Cowgate Road in Greenford, attended by six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. (09/08)
- A garden fire on Dormer’s Wells Lane in Southall, attended by four fire engines and around 25 firefighters. (09/08)
- A fire at a waste facility on Chequers Lane in Dagenham, attended by fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters. (09/08)
How the Brigade tackles wildfires
- Terrain Support Vehicles: The vehicle provides off-road capability enabling the transportation of additional equipment closer to fires on open ground. Each vehicle carries approximately 475 litres of water, a backpack blower, ear defenders, beaters and misting lance technology, which allows firefighters to pump water and drive, enabling them to tackle grass fires more quickly and safely.
- Backpack blowers: These work just like leaf blowers to tackle the fire. They allow firefighters to push flames back into already burnt areas. This is a tactic that provides a faster, more efficient attack on wildfires.
- Wildfire beaters: The beater is made of a long handle with a flat piece of rubber at the end. They’re used to beat the flames, which deprives them of oxygen and cools them down.
- Drone Team: Specialist drones can provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire, allowing them to make effective decisions on the incident ground.
What to do if you discover a wildfire
- Make sure you're in a safe place (away from vegetation and smoke). Stay calm and call 999 immediately.
- If you're in your car, close all windows and vents.
- When you call 999 be as precise as you can about the location, the size and any other information. The free what3words app can help you pinpoint your location, so download it now.
- Don't try to tackle the fire yourself.
- Stay well away from wildfires as fire can smoulder or spread underground.
How to prevent grass fires
- Don't have barbecues (including disposable ones) in parks, public spaces or on balconies. Take a picnic instead.
- Never leave barbecues unattended and put them out properly after you’ve finished using them.
- Take extra care to ensure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of safely.
- Glass bottles and other clear materials can start fires if left in direct sunlight. Make sure you don’t leave any glass bottles lying around in parks and open spaces. Take your litter home with you if nearby bins are full.