Around 120 firefighters tackled two grass fires in east London amid an “exceptionally high” wildfire threat for the capital.
Some 60 firefighters spent over two hours bringing a fire that burned through 30 acres of grassland near Eastern Avenue West in Romford under control on Wednesday.
A further eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters also spent over an hour bringing another substantial grass fire near Southern Way, also in Romford, under control.
Footage shared online showed one of the fires ripping though a field.
That escalated quickly - flash fire in Romford - took 3 mins to cross the field #romfordfire pic.twitter.com/iSEYgqc8pb
— Tony Brennand (@TonyBrennand) July 29, 2026
While aerial footage also showed a huge expansion of grassland smouldering after being devastated by one of the fires.
Live incident ….
— YEDIS DRONE SHOTS (@yedisdroneshots) July 29, 2026
Huge filed fire off London Road, Romford !
Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters are tackling a grass fire near Bridport Avenue in Romford
Around three acres of grassland is currently alight
The Brigade's Control Officers took the first of 11 calls… pic.twitter.com/3imahqYeLr
Footage reportedly show one of the blazes getting close to homes in the area.
Got close to the houses pic.twitter.com/wLPhr9UT7p
— Tony Brennand (@TonyBrennand) July 29, 2026
The Brigade's Control Officers took the first of 11 calls to the blaze near Southern Way at 4.15pm and sent crews from Leytonstone, Wennington, Homerton, Bethnal Green and surrounding fire stations to the scene. The fire was brought under control by 5.50pm.
The first call to the fire near Eastern Avenue West was received at 5.14pm and crews from Woodford, Whitechapel, Barking, Euston and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The fire was under control by 7.16pm.
One of the Brigade's Terrain Support Vehicles was sent to the scene to support firefighting operations.
The vehicle provides off-road capability enabling the transportation of additional equipment closer to fires on open ground. Each vehicle carries approximately 475 litres of water, a backpack blower, ear defenders, beaters and misting lance technology, which allows firefighters to pump water and drive, enabling them to tackle grass fires more quickly and safely.
Assistant Commissioner Pam Oparaocha said: "Throughout this period of hot weather, we are continually monitoring demand and deploying our resources where they are needed most so that we're ready to respond to emergencies across London. Our specialist Terrain Support Vehicles are prepared to tackle grass and wildfire incidents, while our water rescue teams remain ready to respond to emergencies across London's 370-miles of waterways.
"While we are fully prepared to respond, we need everyone to play their part in helping to prevent incidents. Wildfires in particular can spread rapidly, require significant resources and have devastating consequences for people, properties, wildlife and the environment. Wildfires can also have a lasting impact on the health of Londoners because of the smoke plumes that they produce.
"If you're heading to a park or open space to enjoy the sunshine, please don't take a disposable barbecue with you. Even after they have been extinguished, they can retain heat for many hours and pose a serious fire risk. Please also dispose of smoking materials responsibly and either use the bins provided or take your litter home if there are none available.
"If you're having a barbecue at home, never use one on a balcony. Position it well away from fences, sheds and other combustible materials, and avoid placing it on wooden decking."
The blazes broke out as London faced an “exceptionally high” wildfire threat as temperatures soared past 34C.
The UK Fire Severity Index map, produced by the Met Office and managed by Natural England, evaluates how severe a fire could become if one were to start.
According to the map, London will see a risk of “very high” wildfire severity until Sunday (August 2).
However, for Wednesday severity was upgraded to “exceptionally high” in parts of the capital, including in Bromley, Croydon, Dartford, Erith, and Thamesmead.
Fire chiefs warned Londoners not to start blazes in their gardens amid heightened dangers that wildfires could spread rapidly.
