London Fire Brigade declares major incident as second day of heatwave sparks several significant fires across the capital

London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident as firefighters battle several significant fires across the capital during today’s record-breaking heatwave.

The number of serious incidents has prompted the Brigade to ask people to only call 999 if there is an emergency or if there’s an immediate risk to life and not to have barbecues or bonfires. This follows Commissioner Andy Roe writing to all London local authorities asking for their support in a temporary ban of disposable barbecues in all public parks and open spaces.

Firefighters are still meeting the needs of our communities, but declaring a major incident allows us to focus our resources.

Assistant Commissioner for Operational Resilience and Control, Patrick Goulbourne, said: “The Brigade remains ready to respond to incidents, however we want to ensure our resources are available for people who really need our help.

“If you see a fire smouldering, please don’t hesitate to call us. The sooner we know about a fire, the sooner we can bring it under control and prevent it from spreading further, reducing the need for us to mobilise additional resources.

“We are also strongly urging people not to have barbecues or bonfires today, as the ground is incredibly dry, which means even the smallest sparks could cause a fire.

“Please take care during the heatwave as all emergency services are facing unprecedented challenges.”

In addition to several other grass and building fires earlier today, firefighters currently dealing with significant fires across London including:

• Thirty fire engines dealing with a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster.
• Fifteen fire engines tackling a fire on The Green in Wennington.
• Twelve fire engines tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner.
• Ten fire engines tackling a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate.
• Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon.
• Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham.
• Eight fire engines tackling a fire on The Broadway in Wembley.
• Six fire engines tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon.
• Four fire engines tackling a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon.
• Four fire engines tackling a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham.

Brigade’s advice for extreme hot weather:

• Don’t drop cigarettes or anything that is burning on dry ground
• Don’t drop cigarettes out of car windows, they may land on dry grass by the roadside 
• Don’t have barbecues in parks and public spaces
• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind may carry smouldering ash towards nearby grassland
• Don’t dive into open water as it’s colder than it looks. There is the risk of cold water shock, which can cause your body to go into shock no matter how fit you are. It causes panic, anxiety, disorientation and loss of muscular control, which cause you to gasp for air and as a result, inhale water. Rather than struggling, follow the RNLI advice and 'float to live'.
• In this extreme heat, please keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours and family members and make sure to keep hydrated.