Havering: A Borough That Tops The list Of The Highest Number Of Grass Fires.

Newly released data from the London Assembly’s research shows that Havering is one of the London boroughs most affected by outdoor fires, particularly grass and wildfires. Between the summers of 2020 and 2023, three borough-Bexley, Havering and Hounslow topped the list of boroughs with the highest number of incidents.

The seasonal pattern is stark. During periods of extreme heat—like the record-breaking summer of 2022—London Fire Brigade call-outs for grass and open land fires increased dramatically. A daily peak of 2,670 calls on 19 July 2022 was the highest the brigade had seen since World War II. And during one week in early August that same year, London crews tackled 340 grass and rubbish fires, compared to just 42 incidents the previous year.

Havering’s vulnerability isn’t surprising — it’s rich in green spaces and lies on the city’s edge, where urban and rural terrain meet. The borough also has the infamous Launders Lane a fire hotspot, a long-running blaze that has firefighters there on most days in the summer months.

So how does this impact residents?

• Havering is one of the three most affected boroughs by outdoor fires in London.
• Summer heat dramatically amplifies fire frequency—making grassy areas tinder-dry and more likely to blaze.
• Local hotspots, such as Launders Lane, and Ingrebourne Hill, make the threat chronic in certain neighbourhoods such as Rainham.

Grass fires aren’t just inconvenient — they pose serious risk to residents, wildlife and firefighters. They produce toxic fumes (as residents around Launders Lane know all too well), disrupt communities, damage infrastructure, and can escalate into major emergencies in minutes as we saw across Wennington.

So what can we do to help?

• Continue investing in wildland firefighting resources and lightweight protective equipment for crews .
• Councils like Havering need proactive land management — mowing parks, removing litter, banning disposable barbecues during dry spell.
• Raise public awareness — small actions like properly disposing of glass or cigarettes can prevent large-scale fires.

Havering’s green spaces are increasingly under threat from seasonal and prolonged heat. The borough ranks among the most fire-prone in London, and unless urgent measures are taken, “green” could soon read “gone.”

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