Firefighters tackle multiple grassland fires
London firefighters are battling multiple large grassland fires across east London as temperatures hit 34C. Emergency crews are using wildfire beaters to contain the blazes, which have caused significant traffic disruption and smoke hazards.
Why it matters
Extreme heat events are increasingly leading to wildfire risks in urban environments, posing threats to infrastructure and public health.
Image source, LFB Image caption, The fire near Eastern Avenue West in Romford
A large area of grassland in east London has been destroyed by fire as temperatures reached 34C (93F).
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said 60 firefighters were called to Eastern Avenue West in Romford just after 17:00 BST. About 30 acres (12 hectares) of grassland were destroyed, including 20 acres on the westbound side and 10 acres on the eastbound side.
At the time, firefighters were dealing with another grassland fire nearby in Southern Way where about four acres (1.6 hectares) of grassland were damaged. Both fires were under control by around 19:00.
In Rainham, about 100 firefighters are dealing with another grass fire where 10 acres (four hectares) of grassland are alight near Acer Avenue.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in