Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a large grass fire in outer London on Monday afternoon. The blaze broke out on grassland near Fen Lane in North Ockendon, with about six hectares of grassland and shrubbery damaged.
Fire under control by early afternoon
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called just before 11:30am and brought the fire under control by 12:48pm. Fire crews from Hornchurch, Harold Hill, Dagenham and surrounding stations attended, along with crews from Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters used backpack blowers and beaters to control the flames. A local farmer also helped by creating fire breaks, clear strips of land where flammable material is removed to slow the fire's spread.
Hot, dry conditions increase risk
The incident comes as temperatures reached as high as 31C in the capital on Monday, following weeks of hot and dry weather. The lack of rain in London and the South-East has led to hosepipe bans for millions of households this summer.
The drought has greatly increased the risk of wildfires in the city and countryside. The LFB has warned the public to exercise caution during the dry weather. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
