It Begins Again- First Rainham Fire as Havering’s Shocking Fire Record Emerges.

New figures have revealed the scale of grass fires across Havering, with one Rainham hotspot alone seeing repeated callouts and as temperatures rise, fresh concerns are emerging that the borough could be heading into another fire season.

Havering has emerged as one of London’s worst-affected boroughs for grass and outdoor fires, with data showing it consistently ranks among the highest in the capital. While there is no single published annual total for grass fires in the borough, the wider trend is clear and for many residents, the issue feels close to home.

Nowhere is that more evident than Launders Lane in Rainham, a site that has become synonymous with repeat incidents. Official figures show there were 17 recorded fires there in 2024 alone, contributing to a total of nearly 200 fires at the location since 2018. However, these figures only tell part of the story, with firefighters understood to attend the site more frequently to deal with flare-ups, smoke reports and ongoing monitoring.

Concerns have now been heightened further after what is believed to be the first grass fire of the season broke out yesterday on Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham, as temperatures rose across the borough. The incident has prompted fresh questions about whether Havering is once again entering a period of increased fire risk.

For those living nearby, the impact is not just about the visible flames, but what lingers in the air afterwards. Residents have long raised concerns about smoke, odours and the uncertainty surrounding what materials may be burning during repeated incidents.

Health experts have previously warned that smoke from fires can contain fine particulate matter and other pollutants which, when inhaled, may affect the lungs and heart particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. While the extent of any long-term impact in Havering specifically is not formally quantified, the repeated nature of these incidents has led to growing unease within the community.

Havering’s landscape with its large open spaces and urban-rural edges can make it more susceptible to grass fires during warmer, drier periods. However, the concentration of incidents in certain locations has raised wider questions about environmental management, prevention and long-term solutions.

Each incident also brings a wider impact, requiring emergency service response and placing additional demand on local resources. For residents, this can mean disruption, concern about air quality, and frustration that the issue appears to persist year after year.

With Havering continuing to rank among the boroughs most affected by outdoor fires, and the first blaze of the season already recorded, many residents are now asking: is this the start of another long and difficult fire season?

The fire on Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham yesterday.

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