Dozens of fire engines and hundreds of firemen have responded to at least ten distinct fires, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan describing the situation as “critical”.
Firefighters battling blazes that have raced through homes and buildings in London have described the conditions as “absolute hell” on the country’s hottest day on record.
Residents were evacuated, people were brought to hospitals, and a major incident was declared by the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which was “under immense pressure” after a “huge surge” in blazes around the capital as temperatures surpassed 40C (104F) for the first time.
Mayor Sadiq Khan called the situation as “critical” and advised people not to barbecue anywhere in London today or tomorrow, including parks, private gardens, patios, and balconies.
He told Sky News: “It’s not about us being the nanny state or party poopers; it’s the reality of accidents happening and fires starting and spreading quickly in your garden, decking, homes, and so on,” adding that people should avoid “wild swimming” during the hot.
Mr Khan also stated that on an average day, the London Fire Service receives 300-350 calls for assistance, but by late afternoon, they had received over 1,600.
Dozens of fire engines and hundreds of firemen responded to at least ten distinct fires today.
Several houses in the village of Wennington, on the outskirts of east London, were destroyed and others severely damaged after grass fires engulfed properties and billowed black smoke into the air.
LFB dispatched 15 fire engines and approximately 100 firefighters to the area to combat fires that engulfed several buildings and grassland.
Aerial footage showed flames tearing through tinder-dry fields and approaching a historic church.
When asked what the conditions were like, a firefighter at the scene said, “Absolute hell.”
Blaze’started behind the fire station’
The houses were burning near a fire station in the village, which is thought to be home to around 300 people.
Sky journalist Mark Austin, reporting from Wennington, said: “Locals say the fire started in a garden behind the small fire station and then spread very quickly along Kent View.”
He stated that a large house was destroyed by fire, which then spread to smaller cottages along Kent View. And it has seriously damaged those homes, forcing people to evacuate.” He went further: “The fire spread remarkably quickly in the middle of the day.”
Pierre L’Aimable, who witnessed the incident, described it as “immense… there was so much black smoke in the air”.
He told Sky News: “There are horse stables nearby, and we witnessed horses and people being evacuated. There are many animals being saved.”
‘Many people are distressed.’
Mr L’Aimable stated that many people were evacuated from their homes.
“You could see a lot of them were near the fire because there was black on their chests so they were very close to it. A lot of them were distressed regrettably.”
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