‘Extreme’Wildfire Risk in Place In London This Weekend.

London faces an ‘extreme’ wildfire risk as the capital looks set to bask in further hot and sunny weather over the weekend.

The latest assessment by the Natural Hazards Partnership shows the risk of wildfires in London will grow from ‘elevated’ to ‘extreme’ from Saturday until at least Monday. The assessment is driven by factors including further prolonged dry weather and heat as well as wind speed and direction.

Whilst wildfires can occur naturally, the majority of them are caused by human behaviour, whether that be accidentally or deliberately. London Fire Brigade is urging everyone to play their part to prevent harmful wildfires occurring.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said: “We want everyone across the city to enjoy the continuing heatwave but this must be done responsibly.
“The latest wildfire risk assessment indicates that if grass fires were to break out, the chance of them spreading more rapidly due to the weather conditions is greater.
“With so many of London’s parks and open spaces close to properties and communities, it is vital the public take as much care as possible to prevent these fires starting in the first place. We have seen first-hand in London, as well as around the world, just how devastating the impact wildfires can have on livelihoods.
“That means no disposable barbecues in parks and open spaces, taking rubbish home with you if no bins are available and ensuring your cigarettes are discarded of properly.
“If you’re having a barbecue at home, make sure it is on level ground and away from decking, fences, trees and balconies.”

The Brigade is reminding landowners and local authorities to ensure they are managing their land appropriately during the hot and dry weather. This includes creating fire breaks, such as cutting the grass back, particularly where open spaces back onto properties.

Due to the heightened risks to Londoners during this period of hot weather, the Brigade is constantly monitoring where its resources need to be so it is ready to keep London safe in an emergency. Specialist 4×4 Terrain Support Vehicles, which allow firefighters to deal with wildfires more efficiently, are ready to tackle any fires in the open, and the water rescue capability is prepared for any emergency involving London’s 370 miles of waterways.

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