Source link : https://london-news.net/headline-london-faces-surge-in-wildfire-emergencies-amid-unprecedented-dry-conditions/
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) experienced a notable surge in incidents involving grass and wildfires over the past weekend, with some cases suspected to be intentionally ignited.
From Friday to Monday, the brigade fielded a total of 2,215 calls, marking an increase of 713 compared to the same timeframe last year.
Among these were 65 instances of outdoor fires—affecting woodlands, parks, gardens, and involving shrubs, trees, and logs—which represents a significant rise from just 15 during the same period in 2024.
The most severe incident occurred on Friday afternoon in Bostall Woods, located in Plumstead, south-east London, where approximately 25 firefighters were deployed to bring the grass fire under control, according to an LFB representative.
Initial figures from the Met Office reveal that London received only 4.8mm of rain in March, amounting to a mere 12% of the city’s long-term average for that month.
The LFB has called on the public to “act responsibly” as the dry spell persists through the weekend.
Thomas Goodall, an assistant commissioner of the LFB, highlighted that the risk of wildfires in London is currently elevated and increases with each day without rain. He underscored that “it doesn’t have to be hot for fires to start outdoors.”
He remarked that a “minority” of the recent fires may have been deliberately set, warning, “What may appear to be harmless fun can escalate into something far more dangerous, especially under current weather…
—-
Author : [email protected]
Publish date : 2025-04-10 15:45:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8