Sadiq Khan has warned of the risk of wildfires similar to those raging in France bearing down on London as it faces an “exceptional” threat from blazes this week. The London Mayor sounded the alarm over the growing danger of wildfires due to weeks of almost no rain, parched land, rising temperatures and less humidity. The “perfect storm” of wildfire conditions means the capital faces an “exceptional” risk of blazes spreading on Wednesday.
Warning from Sadiq Khan
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The climate crisis is having a devastating impact on our environment with temperatures rising to record levels in London and around the world so far this summer. “Wildfires are raging across Europe engulfing green spaces in France and Spain, endangering homes, forcing evacuations and posing a genuine threat to life. This isn’t a faraway issue, it's on our doorstep right now.”
Heat-health alert
As temperatures are set to rise this week, the UK Health Security Agency raised the existing yellow heat-health alerts to amber for London, the South East, East Midlands and East of England from 9am on Tuesday 28 July until 9am on Thursday 30 July. The upgraded warning is based on significant impacts being “likely” across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, and other sectors such as transport possibly being affected.
Temperatures forecast
The capital is forecast to swelter in 28C on Monday, 29C on Tuesday, a peak of 33C on Wednesday, before falling to 28C on Thursday and then cooling slightly.
Fire brigade advice
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has responded to a series of blazes in recent days, having dealt with a major fire in Walthamstow, in the east of the capital, earlier this month. The fire chiefs have urged Londoners to create fire breaks around their gardens to stop blazes spreading and destroying their properties. In guidance for people who discover a wildfire, the LFB stressed:
- 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 blaze 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
Wildfire risk in city centre
The threat of wildfires is so extensive that it goes right into the city centre, with Royal Parks close to Buckingham Palace having been turned into “tinderboxes”. Londoners are being urged not to use BBQs in parks, to make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished, and not to leave glass, or fragments of glass, lying around as this can lead to fires ignited by sunlight. If they start, fires are likely to become “exceptionally severe” on Wednesday in parts of London, the South East, and East, according to Met Office data used by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales. This threat remains in areas of the South East and East on Thursday.
Meteorologist's perspective
Met Office senior operational meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “In terms of wildfire, obviously the continuation of the dry and hot conditions does elevate the fire risk. “That rain we’ve had, even though it’s welcome rain...is certainly not enough really to do a huge amount for the dry conditions we’ve already already got.” The Fire Severity Index looks at data including rainfall, temperature and humidity. Mr Stroud explained that drier weather, with less humidity, increases the fire spread risk. The second heatwave was particularly humid and that “does reduce the risk somewhat”. The third heatwave was drier and longer lasting. Humidity levels are expected to fall in the fourth heatwave hitting this week. Agencies use the index to assess the severity of fire if it starts. It does not cover the chances of wildfires occurring.
With still little sign of significant rain on the horizon, Thames Water has imposed a hosepipe ban in London and other parts of the South East. Emergency crews have already spent days fighting large wildfires in Scotland and Wales that forced people to evacuate their homes.
