Londoners are being urged to create firebreaks around their gardens in the face of an “extreme” threat of wildfires.
Fire chiefs issued the guidance after large blazes erupted over the weekend including in Walthamstow and Stratford.
Around 125 firefighters battled the blaze in Walthamstow after a railway embankment caught fire on Sunday evening, with flames spreading across some 30 gardens and causing damage to a number of properties.
A further two fires also broke out in London outdoor spaces on Monday.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall told The Standard: “As these very warm and dry conditions continue, we encourage all landowners, including households, to take any precautionary measures they can to protect properties in the event of a fire.
“Residents can also help minimise damage by keeping grass cut low and cutting back trees and shrubbery, particularly around the edges.
“Garden sheds should be positioned away from your home and other flammable materials like fencing.”
The Standard revealed in May how heatwave conditions had ramped up the threat of wildfires in the capital including around Buckingham Palace as Royal Parks are turned into “tinderboxes”.
With the city now in its third heatwave of the year, fire chiefs advised Londoners:
* If possible create a firebreak around your property. You can do this by clearing 2-3m around all sides of your home and garden
* Keep grass cut short (below 7cm)
* Consider cutting back trees and shrubs that are close to your home
* Clear flammable debris, like dead leaves, from your garden and guttering
* Try to position any sheds or garden furniture away from your home
* Keeping your garden watered in dry spells makes it less combustible
* If a hosepipe ban is in place, consider using water butts or wastewater from your home to water your garden.
Amid the “extreme” threat of wildfires, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan urged people to follow the LFB guidance.
He posted on X: “London's firefighters have shown extraordinary dedication over this period of high demand and challenging conditions.
“Thank you for all you do to keep our city safe.
“As the hot weather continues, it is important that Londoners follow all fire prevention guidance to help reduce the risk of fires.”
The fire brigade in London took nearly 3,000 emergency calls between Friday and Sunday night.
Crews spent more than 24 hours dealing with the fires in Walthamstow and Stratford.
Seven fire engines were sent to a wildfire in Orpington on Sunday afternoon.
Crews also raced to put out blazes in a number of other buildings and gardens across the capital.
“The incident in Walthamstow shows how fires in London’s open spaces can quickly spread and impact nearby properties,” explained AC Goodall.
“Although temperatures are set to drop as the week goes on, the risk of wildfires remains very high as the weather continues to stay dry.
“We urge everyone to play their part to help prevent wildfires occurring.”
One fire in south Croydon that destroyed several sheds is believed to have been caused by an unattended BBQ.
A stronger wind over the weekend than in recent weeks may have fuelled the spread of fires.
Landowners of parks and open spaces are being urged to put in fire breaks at the edges, by cutting grass back to a low level.
Wildfires erupted last year in Dagenham, Rainham and Wanstead, and in previous years including a major one in Wennington, east London, in 2022.
The scale of the threat from the record temperatures this year was revealed on Monday by research showing 1,000 people in London and the wider South East were killed by the heatwaves in May and June, mainly due to heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses.
As the heatwave conditions continue, experts are warning that parts of the UK are at “exceptional” risk of wildfires.
Areas in southern England and the Midlands are highlighted as being at highest risk, according to Natural England.
Its fire severity index shows the area of “exceptional” risk is set to increase and spread to the South East and East of England by the middle of the week.
The Met Office has said the scorching heatwave conditions experienced by much of the UK are due to last into the coming week, with most areas expected to stay dry, sunny and very hot.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called out to a “large fire in the open” on the South Downs near Eastbourne on Saturday while teams also tackled a blaze at Devil’s Dyke in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex.
It comes as hundreds of firefighters have battled one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires, which has killed at least 13 people in Almeria province in the south of the country.
Five of the dead are believed to be British, according to regional authorities.
