Firefighters are asking people to follow safety advice as London is set to see hot weather continue into the weekend, with forecast temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius over the coming days.
This follows an amber heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency and Met Office on Tuesday, which asks people to check on older family members, friends or neighbours. The Mayor of London’s Cool Spaces Map provides information about where Londoners can find places to shelter from the sun and cool down.
Thousands of Londoners are expected to flock to parks and open spaces this weekend to enjoy the sunshine so London Fire Brigade is reminding everyone of the increased risk of barbeques during this hot weather.
Earlier today, firefighters were out and about chatting with parkgoers at Hampstead Heath, which is managed by the City of London Corporation as a registered charity, giving them crucial safety advice which will help protect Londoners, the environment and properties.
The Brigade’s advice is for people to not take a disposable barbecue with them if they are visiting an open park or space as they can cause grass fires, during periods of extreme heat when the ground is dry. Disposable barbecues pose a significant fire risk if they are not used appropriately and put out properly, because heat can be retained for many hours even after a barbeque has been put out.
Many of London’s parks and open spaces have bans in place on disposable barbecues, which are enforced by the relevant local authority. You can find more details about public space protection orders on the local authority’s website.
Barbecues of any type should also never be used indoors or on balconies. They should never be left unattended, and they should be kept well away from anything flammable like sheds, fences, trees or tents. Earlier this year, around 60 firefighters tackled a fire started by a barbecue on a flat balcony in Croydon which led to two flats being destroyed.
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: “After what has been a relatively cool summer, Londoners will undoubtedly want to be out enjoying this spell of fine weather, but this has to be done safely.
“It only takes a spark to ignite a fire and, as we saw last year, grass fires can be unpredictable and spread very quickly, causing significant amounts of damage. We’ve already seen a number of grass fires this week. We’ve been working hard to prepare and respond to weather like this but we need everyone to play their part to reduce the risk of fires occurring.”
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen’s Park Committee, said: “If you’re visiting London’s green spaces this weekend, please feel free to take a picnic with you, but leave your barbecues at home - they can cause grass fires, especially in hot weather when the ground is dry.
“We are urging all visitors to help us by ensuring any rubbish, especially glass or cigarettes, are properly disposed of.
“If you see smoke or fire, dial 999 if an emergency response is required”.
Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, Fiona Twycross, said: “While we enjoy the sunshine and warm weather it is vital that we all take sensible precautions to look after ourselves and help reduce the pressure on our emergency services who will be very busy during this heatwave.
“That means drinking plenty of water, only calling 999 in a genuine emergency, and avoiding the dangers of open water swimming. London Fire Brigade have also warned of the heightened fire risk during the heatwave. So I would urge Londoners not to have barbecues on balconies or in open spaces, to throw rubbish away safely, and to dispose of cigarettes properly to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.
“The Mayor has put together a map of cool and shaded places online where Londoners and visitors can find respite from the heat across the city. And we’re encouraging everyone in our capital to use 4,000 free water refill locations and more than 100 new water fountains that we have installed as part of our work to build a greener, fairer and safer London for everyone.”
Discarded smoking materials and leftover rubbish also pose a huge fire risk in open spaces. LFB is asking Londoners to ensure their rubbish is placed securely inside a bin or to take it home with them. The Brigade is also asking for those using cigarettes to make sure they are completely out.
The hot weather might also tempt people into ponds and rivers but even in warm temperatures, cold water has the ability to cause cold water shock. Just this week, an off-duty London firefighter rescued a boy from drowning.
Last summer’s grass fires were an example of the range of new challenges firefighters are facing as a result of extreme weather resulting from climate change.
In response, this year, the Brigade introduced the ‘Holey Hose’ for the first time – a type of fire service hose which has pre-prepared holes that creates a curtain of water reaching up to two metres high. When a fire is spreading across land, the hose will be deployed to protect life and property.
Ten wildfire officers and 30 wildfire tactical advisors have also been introduced this summer. Tactical advisors are deployed to support Incident Commanders at large grass fires and wildfires.
Weekly strategic forecasting meetings also highlight key organisational risks for the following seven days, which includes risk of warm weather and flooding.