The day Havering burned….

Tragic scenes across the borough as multiple fires leave hundreds without homes.

Tuesday 19 July has been recorded as the hottest day ever and will sadly be remembered for all the wrong reasons-the day Havering burned.

Fire after fire across the borough saw our firefighters working until the early hours of this morning in Rainham and Dagenham.

The day commenced with news that a fire at a block of flats in Hornchurch had left sixty people without homes. Thanks to East Area police officers these people were able to take shelter at Hornchurch police station during the night as they literally had nowhere else to go.

From there a large fire broke out on Pea Lane in Upminster that saw nearly 200 firefighters and 30 fire engines tackle it. Just as firefighters finished this fire, another broke out in Wennington that sadly spread rapidly due to the extremely dry conditions.

This fire we now know has destroyed 18 properties and left over a 100 people without a home. Residents were evacuated by firefighters who worked tirelessly in extreme conditions to battle the blaze.

Tragic scenes were shown of the Wennington fire as it spread due to the wind and burned everything in its path.

Late last night more fires broke out in Beam Park and firefighters tackled a blaze in Dagenham where 18 properties were also destroyed.

Displaced residents have spent the night at Harrow Lodge Leisure centre or with family and friends after losing their homes.

Yesterday’s scenes were tragic and ones no one wants to ever witness again.

Havering and Dagenham communities have been outstanding and have rallied round to support our emergency service workers and our residents who have lost their home.