The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is urging Londoners to take collective action as the Natural Hazards Partnership rates the current risk of wildfires in the capital as severe
This summer, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has responded to 64 wildfires, compared to just 19 during the whole of summer 2020, representing a 237% rise with weeks of hot weather still ahead. With higher-than-average temperatures and below-average rainfall, the risk of wildfires in London is currently rated as severe by the Natural Hazards Partnership.
According to the LFB’s website, the most recent incident was on Sunday, when four fire engines attended a grass fire in Mitcham, during which 2,500m² of grass shrubland was destroyed by fire. Last Wednesday, 14 engines attended three separate grass and shrubland fires across the city while in July, a major blaze in Dagenham required 125 firefighters to contain flames spreading across parkland.
The Mayor is calling for greater public awareness, closer partnership working, and sustainable funding for fire services to ensure London is prepared for future summers of extreme heat. With so many parks and green spaces bordering residential areas, Sadiq Khan is working alongside the London Fire Brigade to strengthen its capacity to prevent and respond to wildfires.
Recent investment from City Hall has equipped the LFB with advanced tools and specialist training. This includes the use of drones to provide real-time mapping of fire spread, new hoses that create protective curtains of water and off-road 4×4 vehicles designed to access hard-to-reach grassland and tackle fires on the move. Specialist responders have also been trained in wildfire behaviour and tactics, boosting the Brigade’s resilience.
The London Fire Brigade is collaborating with borough councils to reduce risks in open spaces by keeping grass short and managing cuttings, particularly near homes and businesses. At the same time, the Brigade continues to work with national agencies, including the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency, to monitor threats and quickly scale up resources when extreme incidents occur.
London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: ‘The risk of wildfires in London is increasing, driven by hotter, drier weather that makes it far easier for fires to start and spread rapidly.
‘Thanks to record investment from the Mayor, we’ve strengthened our training and expanded our wildfire capabilities, introducing new equipment and trialling new response vehicles to keep Londoners safe. This includes specialist off-road 4×4 wildfire response vehicles to reach fires quickly in challenging terrain, drones providing real-time aerial mapping, and specialist hoses designed to protect people, property and green spaces.
‘As our climate changes, we must adapt and stay ahead of the risks. By working closely with communities, landowners and our partners, we can reduce the likelihood of wildfires and ensure that when they do occur, we are ready to respond effectively. The safety of Londoners will always be our highest priority, and we will continue to invest, develop and train to meet future challenges head on.’
Photo: Ronald Plett
Leave a Reply