- As the wildfire warning is raised to amber, there is an increased risk of wildfires due to recent low rainfall and forecast prolonged spells of sunshine alongside unseasonably high temperatures
- London Fire Brigade is asking Londoners to be cautious and follow fire safety advice as the Met Office issues an amber alert
- The Brigade is reminding people how they can stay safe and act responsibly if they are out enjoying the sunshine
Firefighters are asking people to follow safety advice due to an increased risk of wildfires occurring across London after an alert was issued by the Met Office. While London may not be experiencing the same high temperatures as the summer months, wildfires can still occur, especially as we’ve had a drier start to spring than usual this year.
Londoners are being reminded that it only takes a small spark to ignite grass, shrubs, or litter and with the dry weather conditions that London has been seeing and will continue to see, any fire can quickly get out of control. Grass and land fires are commonly caused by discarded cigarettes and matches, rubbish left lying around and disposable barbecues.
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Paul McCourt said: “We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors even when temperatures are not at their highest.
“The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week. As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.
“We’re also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.”
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