Grass fire – East Ham

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a grass fire on Burges Road in East Ham.

Part of an area of grass and shrubland measuring around three hectares was alight. There were no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 29 calls to the fire.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The warmer weather we have been having makes the ground extremely dry, which unfortunately means grassland and parks will burn quickly when exposed to even the smallest of sparks.

“If you see a grass fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can travel very quickly and change direction without warning. Call the Brigade and let us know where the fire is.”

The Brigade was called at 1544 and the fire was under control by 1946. Fire crews from Plaistow, Millwall, Leyton, Homerton, Bethnal Green and Poplar fire stations attended the scene.

Brigade’s 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.
• Never leave barbecues unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them.
• 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.