EXCLUSIVE: Wennington fire victims call for firebreaks to prevent another tragedy.

Resident slams former London Mayor Boris Johnson for cuts to fire service that saw fire engine come from Orpington in Kent.

Victims of the horrendous fire that destroyed many homes last year in the small Wennington community, have called on the government to install firebreaks on all homes who back on to fields to stop another tragedy from taking place.

Dave and his wife Robby live in one of the small cottages in Wennington and were victims of the huge blaze that struck the area in July last year.

Dave told the Havering Daily: “We will all remember July 19 for the rest of our lives. I looked out and saw the flames coming down the road. The police were rushing to knock on people’s doors to evacuate us as quickly as they could.

“We grabbed what little we could, and left and that was it.”

The fire ripped through this small community destroying many houses and leaving people with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Dave and Robby had their garden completely destroyed and the back of their house.

Dave continued: “Our firefighters and our police officers were amazing. Sadly even though we have our fire station in walking distance, that fire engine was in Upminster at the time due to a large fire there.

“The former London Mayor Boris Johnson cut our fire service and police. We had two fire engines based here and he cut that and left us with one.

“We had to wait for a fire engine to come from Orpington in Kent that took 38 minutes and by then it was too late. “

That was the hottest day of the year that saw temperatures in Havering reach over 40c. Firefighters across London struggled with the high levels of fires and spent the day running from one fire to another with no respite.

“We need firebreaks now to stop another fire like this from taking place this year. Climate change is here, we can see that. We must have those firebreaks installed across the country to stop blazes like this from destroying homes every year.”

Dave and Robby have been helping those who lost everything in the blaze. Many are waiting to have their homes rebuilt.

Local ward Councillor Sue Ospreay has been supporting her community throughout this horrendous journey and is in Wennington most days to see the work taking place.

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