‘Local communities deserve a long term solution to the problem’-Havering’s Fire Chief speaks out on Launders Lane fire.
Two further fires on Tuesday night in Rainham spark more concerns from local residents.
Havering firefighters attended two fires on Launders Lane in Rainham on Tuesday evening. The ongoing issues with fires in Rainham are now becoming a serious issue for locals who are concerned about the toxic fumes being released into the air.
On Tuesday July 5 two fires broke out at the site. The first fire was at 6:33pm and there were four fire engines and 25 firefighters in attendance.
There were several seats of fire to extinguish. The incident was over for the crews at 8:41pm.
The second incident was at 9:32pm and six fire engines and 40 firefighters were in attendance.
Once again there were multiple seats of fire and crews remained on scene so a controlled burn could be carried out.
This incident was under control by 1:20am but firefighters remained on scene Wednesday morning to try and extinguish the deep seated pockets of fire.
Our firefighters have been dealing with these repeated fires for several years now and this has been an ongoing problem that now urgently needs to be addressed.
London Fire Brigade’s Borough Commander for Havering, Paul McClenaghan, said: “Crews from Havering and surrounding boroughs have attended more than 70 fires at the site on Launders Lane in Rainham since 2018.
“The fires are distressing for the local community and are putting firefighters at unnecessary risk. The reason the fires are happening regularly is due to the build-up of heat from rubbish dumped at the site over a long period of time.
“Local communities deserve a long term solution to the problem and we’re working closely with the council and Environment Agency to help reach this.
“We will continue to send crews to assess the fire and we will respond appropriately so firefighters can ensure the fire does not spread any further.”
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It’s absolutely disgusting that we have to blanketed in carcinogenic toxic fumes on an almost nightly basis and that official reporting of these blazes are described as grass fires. It’s ILLEGAL waste burning and it has been for YEARS. The fact that they are only ever suppressing the fires rather than attempting to extinguish them beggars belief after this long. On the hottest of nights we have to have all the windows shut and can still smell the acrid fumes drifting along the roads. It’s unbearable. How many people are going to develop serious health issues including cancer as a result of the repeated failings of LFB? The latest strategy seems to have been a bungled attempt to pour concrete and cap the worst effected areas thereby adding to the blazes thermal mass and hampering further firefighting efforts, MADNESS!! I have definitely developed a nasty cough in the last few months as the fire seems to be on an almost daily basis. With the push in London for ever cleaner air, recurring issues such as this need to be given top priority. I’m at my wits end. Mr Fed Up of Rainham.