Londoners are being urged to create firebreaks around their gardens to protect their homes from the extreme threat of wildfires, fire chiefs have advised. The guidance comes after large blazes erupted over the weekend in areas including Walthamstow and Stratford, with around 125 firefighters battling a fire that spread across some 30 gardens and damaged several properties.
Fire Chiefs Issue Precautionary Measures
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall told The Standard: "As these very warm and dry conditions continue, we encourage all landowners, including households, to take any precautionary measures they can to protect properties in the event of a fire." He added that residents can help minimise damage by keeping grass cut low and cutting back trees and shrubbery, particularly around the edges of gardens. Garden sheds should be positioned away from homes and other flammable materials like fencing.
The fire brigade received nearly 3,000 emergency calls between Friday and Sunday night, with crews spending more than 24 hours dealing with the fires in Walthamstow and Stratford. Seven fire engines were sent to a wildfire in Orpington on Sunday afternoon, and crews also tackled blazes in other buildings and gardens across the capital.
Specific Advice for Homeowners
Fire chiefs advised Londoners to take the following steps:
- Create a firebreak around your property by clearing 2-3 metres around all sides of your home and garden.
- Keep grass cut short, below 7 centimetres.
- Consider cutting back trees and shrubs close to your home, and dispose of garden waste responsibly.
- Clear flammable debris like dead leaves from your garden and guttering.
- Position sheds or garden furniture away from your home.
- Keep your garden watered in dry spells to make it less combustible. If a hosepipe ban is in place, use water butts or wastewater.
Impact of Recent Fires
The incident in Walthamstow demonstrated how fires in London's open spaces can rapidly spread and affect nearby properties, according to AC Goodall. Although temperatures are expected to drop, the risk of wildfires remains very high as dry weather persists. A stronger wind over the weekend may have fuelled the spread of fires. One fire in south Croydon that destroyed several sheds is believed to have been caused by an unattended barbecue.
Landowners of parks and open spaces are urged to put in fire breaks at the edges by cutting grass back to a low level. Wildfires erupted last year in Dagenham, Rainham and Wanstead, and a major fire occurred in Wennington, east London, in 2022.
Heatwave Deaths and Wider Risk
The scale of the threat from record temperatures was highlighted by research showing that 1,000 people in London and the wider South East were killed by heatwaves in May and June, mainly due to heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses. Experts warn that parts of the UK are at "exceptional" risk of wildfires, with southern England and the Midlands highlighted as highest risk, according to Natural England. The fire severity index indicates the area of exceptional risk is set to increase and spread to the South East and East of England by mid-week.
The Met Office said the scorching heatwave conditions are due to last into the coming week, with most areas expected to remain dry, sunny and very hot. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service tackled a large fire on the South Downs near Eastbourne, while teams also dealt with a blaze at Devil's Dyke in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex.
Global Context
The warnings come as hundreds of firefighters battled one of Spain's deadliest wildfires, which killed at least 13 people in Almeria province. Five of the dead are believed to be British, according to regional authorities.
