Grass fire - Rainham

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a grass fire on New Road in Rainham.

Approximately one and a half hectares of grassland was damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took nine calls to the blaze.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “A common way that these types of fires can start is by broken glass which magnify the sun and concentrate rays.

“It’s important that you clear away any rubbish, particularly glass bottles and glasses to help prevent grass fires.”

Brigade top tips on grass fires:

• Avoid having barbecues in parks, public spaces and balconies.
• Clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to avoid them magnifying the sun and starting a fire.
• Dispose of smoking materials such as cigarettes safely- don’t drop cigarettes on dry ground and don’t drop them out of car windows, as they may land on dry grass and lead to a fire.
• Disposable barbecues that have been discarded and abandoned can still end up causing a fire as they will continue to retain heat after use – they need to be put right out and cooled before being thrown away.
• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind can carry smouldering ash onto nearby grassland.

The Brigade was called at 1241 and the fire was under control by 1403. Fire crews from Dagenham, Hornchurch and Barking fire stations attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.