Grass fire - Rainham

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a grass fire on Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham.

Around 50 square metres of grass was damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “When the ground is extremely dry, grassland and parks will burn quickly when exposed to even the smallest of sparks.

“Disposable barbecues that have been discarded and abandoned can end up causing a fire as hot coals can smoulder and pose a real fire risk for some time after the flames die down – they need to be put right out and cooled before being thrown away.

“One of the most common causes of grass fires are discarded cigarettes. Even ones thrown from car windows can ignite dry grass verges and spread quickly. Whilst it is safer to smoke outdoors, please always make sure cigarettes are disposed of carefully, or even better yet - stop smoking altogether.”

The Brigade was called at 1434 and the fire was under control by 1642. Fire crews from Ilford, Dagenham, Romford and Hornchurch fire stations attended the scene.

Firefighters’ top tips on grass fires:

• 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.
• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind can carry smouldering ash onto nearby grassland.
• Be aware that children, animals, balls or anything else may knock over barbecues, increasing the risk of grass fires, especially when in a busy parks or public spaces.