Wildfires have broken out across London as temperatures continue to soar in the capital.
Grass fires broke out within three minutes of each other at Wanstead Flats and near Arnold Road in Northolt shortly after 1.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.
A blaze burnt through around four hectares of Wanstead Flats hours after a fire ripped through the park on Monday.
It was not immediately clear if the same area had caught fire two days in a row.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a fire near Centre Road by Wanstead Flats at 1.32pm on Tuesday.
Around four hectares of grassland caught fire with the London Fire Brigade using a wildfire response vehicle and wildfire beaters, a long-handled stick with rubber at the end, to fight the flames.
The London Fire Brigade has asked people to avoid the area while fire crews extinguish the fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Another eight fire engines and 60 firefighters tackled the grass fire in Northolt, with crews sent from Northolt, Ruislip, Hayes and surrounding fire stations, at 1.35pm on Tuesday.
On Monday, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters rushed to Wanstead Flats, with the blaze being brought under control by around 8pm on Monday night.
Around three hectares of grassland were alight on Monday.
It is not currently clear if the same area of grassland caught fire.
Firefighters had used a drone to monitor the size of the fire on Monday, and a specialist wildfire response vehicle was sent to the scene to support fire crews.
Footage from the fire on Monday showed large red flames ripping through shrubs near a path at the park.
Fire spreading at Wanstead Flats. Bystanders not bothered... pic.twitter.com/xgQeZMlr5X
— fredbo (@freddiebonfa) August 11, 2025
Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest & Commons Committee, Caroline Haines, said: “We’ve long warned about the risk of wildfires in places like Wanstead Flats, where open grassland borders densely populated neighbourhoods. In hot, dry weather, even a single spark – from a glass bottle, a discarded cigarette, or an abandoned barbecue – can ignite a blaze.
“Barbecues are banned across all our open spaces for exactly this reason. While we do everything we can to reduce the risk – through seasonal grass cutting, natural fire breaks, and staff training – these incidents are a stark reminder of how quickly fires can take hold, and how vital it is that everyone plays their part in protecting these much-loved landscapes.”
Temperatures in parts of London are expected to reach 34C on Tuesday, making it one of the hottest days of the year so far.
An amber heat alert is in place for Tuesday, with the London Ambulance Service warning people to check on their elderly neighbours and relatives.
Homeless charity St Mungo’s has also warned that the soaring temperatures can be deadly for those sleeping rough.
James Lally, Director of Pan and Central London and Street Homeless Services at the charity, said: “On the streets, it can be difficult to access water, sunscreen, and places to shelter from the sun, meaning that those experiencing homelessness have a particularly high risk of developing life-threatening heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heat stroke.
“It is right to treat this current heatwave as an emergency. As ever, St Mungo’s teams are prepared to respond to this critical situation.”
The charity said people can help those sleeping rough by offering water and sun cream, and it has increased the number of its outreach shifts taking place due to the heat.
Londoners have also been asked not to leave their engines idling or burn garden waste as a high air pollution alert was issued for the capital.
Meanwhile, National Rail warned that the hot weather may disrupt trains, explaining that heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, create line-side fires and cause rails to buckle.
London is set to enter its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures once again expected to pass 28C for three consecutive days.
Mainland Europe has also been hit by scorching temperatures, with the mercury climbing to 44C in the south of Spain, according to the Met Office.
