Sadiq Khan has called for joint action to tackle the growing threat of wildfires in the capital, as the number of incidents has more than doubled over the past five years.
With temperatures rising year on year and extreme heat becoming the new normal, the Mayor of London has said London must “adapt to stay ahead of the risks”,
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has responded to 64 wildfires already this year, compared to just 19 in the entire summer of 2020 — a staggering 237 per cent increase.
Firefighters tackled five wildfires in just three days earlier this month, prompting London Fire Brigade to suspect that some of the fires may have been started deliberately.
Crews attended a series of wildfires at Wanstead Flats, with flames reaching the heights of trees in one case later referred to the Metropolitan Police.
Large red flames had ripped through shrubs near a path at the park on Monday, with around 60 firefighters rushing to the scene.
Since the start of June, nearly 80 fires in locations such as open grassland, scrubland, woodland, parks and other green spaces have been recorded as deliberate.
While temperatures are expected to fall slightly in the next week, grassland continues to be a tinderbox, following weeks of sunshine and little rainfall.
Sadiq Khan is now calling for better education for Londoners, greater partnership work and sustainable funding for fire services.
City Hall and the London Fire Brigade are working closely with partners including the Natural Hazards Partnership, the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency, to highlight risks and scale up resources in the event of a high demand incident, including flash flooding.
The Mayor of London said: “The climate crisis is having a devastating impact on our environment with temperatures rising in London, across the UK and around the world.
“Wildfires are raging across Europe engulfing green spaces, endangering homes, forcing evacuations and posing a genuine threat to life. This isn’t a faraway issue, it's on our doorstep.
“London continues to experience wildfires during the summer months, and I’m determined to do everything possible to ensure the capital is as prepared as possible for the impact of climate change, wildfires and extreme heat.
“We’ve been working proactively with the London Fire Brigade and partners to ensure our city is ready to prevent and deal with wildfires.
“But everyone needs to do their bit. This means calling 999 if you see a wildfire, educating yourself on the risks and following key advice from the London Fire Brigade."
London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “The risk of wildfires in London is increasing, driven by hotter, drier weather that makes it far easier for fires to start and spread rapidly.
“Thanks to record investment from the Mayor, we’ve strengthened our training and expanded our wildfire capabilities, introducing new equipment and trialling new response vehicles to keep Londoners safe.
“This includes specialist off-road 4x4 wildfire response vehicles to reach fires quickly in challenging terrain, drones providing real-time aerial mapping, and specialist hoses designed to protect people, property and green spaces.
"As our climate changes, we must adapt and stay ahead of the risks. By working closely with communities, landowners and our partners, we can reduce the likelihood of wildfires and ensure that when they do occur, we are ready to respond effectively.
“The safety of Londoners will always be our highest priority, and we will continue to invest, develop and train to meet future challenges head on.”
