A man has been charged with arson after around ten fires were started in London Fields, a popular park in east London.
Met officers and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to reports of a man starting fires in London Fields, near Lansdowne Drive, Hackney, at around 5am on Saturday. Police said a man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of arson, setting fires and possession of a Class A drug.
“The London Fire Brigade quickly extinguished around ten fires, all within London Fields,” the Met said in a statement. No injuries were reported.
Charges and court appearance
Isaac Shozi, 50, of Bodney Road in Hackney, was later charged with arson. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Detective Superintendent Liz Cumber, who leads policing in central east London, said: “No one can be in any doubt about the dangers of starting fires, particularly following the recent hot weather and heightened risk of wildfires.
“Even small fires can spread quickly and put people, buildings and open spaces at risk.”
“We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and work closely with partners, including the London Fire Brigade. We will investigate all incidents, identify those responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken against those who are reported to have endangered the public.”
Wildfire risk and recent incidents
The incident comes days after an emergency wildlife alert from the Government was sent to millions across the UK. The alert warned people not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, including barbecues, campfires, and fireworks.
In a record-setting summer, the hottest temperature of the year in the UK was recorded on Thursday when the mercury hit 38.1C in Kew Gardens. London’s parks have been turned into “tinderbox” parched lands where fires can easily spread, including a wildfire which tore through Hornchurch Country Park on Friday evening.
More than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the same as last year’s record-breaking total.
