While wildfires can occur naturally, London Fire Brigade (LFB) is warning they are commonly caused by human behaviour, whether that be accidental or deliberate.
On one of the busiest evenings so far this summer (14 July), two wildfires in east London are both believed to have been started deliberately, including a fire on parkland in Dagenham which required around 125 firefighters to safely extinguish. It was only thanks to the quick and efficient actions of crews and officers, as well as the proactive work of Barking & Dagenham Council to create fire breaks, that prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding homes.
Yesterday (7 August), three fire engines were called to a fire near Whitehall Lane in Erith, where firefighters found around two hectares of grassland alight. The fire is also believed to have been started deliberately. Overall, since the start of June, nearly 80 fires in locations such as open grassland, scrubland, woodland, parks and other green spaces have been recorded as deliberate.
With London due to experience its fourth heatwave of the summer next week, London Fire Brigade is urging everyone to behave responsibly to prevent wildfires in the capital.
After a period of cooler and fresher weather, sunshine and high temperatures are forecast. Coupled with the below average-rainfall experienced so far this year, the risk of wildfires in London is currently considered as severe by the Natural Hazards Partnership.
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said: “While some wildfires can occur naturally, particularly during spells of extreme dryness and heat, the majority of these fires can be easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly.
“What might seem like harmless fun has the potential to have devastating consequences especially in London when so many of our green spaces lie close to properties. There is also the impact on wildlife and the ability for others to enjoy their local green spaces. These types of incidents can also have a impact on our resources and wildfires can be challenging for firefighters to deal with on the ground, especially if it is hot.
“As we head into the fourth week of the school holidays, we’re urging parents to inform their children on the risks of starting an outdoor fire, as well as encouraging them not to act recklessly or irresponsibly.”
Wildfires can also be caused accidentally. The use of disposable BBQs and careless discarding of cigarettes are regularly the cause of outdoor fires. It is also important to place your rubbish with you, if a suitable bin isn’t available as it can ignite and quickly start a fire.
Assistant Commissioner Goodall continued: “If you’re heading out, please don’t take a disposable BBQ with you. They can retain heat for several hours after use and are banned by local authorities from many of London's parks. Also make sure you are discarding cigarettes properly and take rubbish home with you if there are no bins are available.
“At home, make sure your BBQ is positioned away from flammable items like fencing, sheds, decking or trees and please don’t have any type of BBQ on your balcony. We’re also strongly advising people to avoid burning any waste in this type of weather and to not have bonfires, particularly in their gardens.”