Climate change: London mayor says Fire Brigade had busiest day since WWll

Climate change: London mayor says Fire Brigade had busiest day since WWll
July 20, 2022, 3:33 pm

Around 100 firefighters tackled a fire which destroyed homes in Wennington - Photo. BBC via PA media

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said that London's fire service had its busiest day since World War Two dealing with several blazes in record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday (July 19).

The capital was one of 15 areas around the UK to declare a major incident, according to the BBC.

It said, the fires started on a day which saw a record temperature of 40.3C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Khan said: "Yesterday was the busiest day for the fire service in London since the Second World War.

Mr Khan said London Fire Brigade (LFB) received 2,600 calls as it dealt with multiple fires. He earlier told Sky News 41 properties were destroyed in London on Tuesday.

"Normally we get 350 calls a day, on a busy day we can get up to 500 calls. Yesterday the fire service had more than 2,600 calls a day."

The National Fire Chiefs Council said firefighters dealt with an "unprecedented level of wildfires" - Photo. BBC via Getty Images

In Wennington, east London, 100 firefighters tackled a blaze which destroyed several homes.

LFB said two rows of terraced houses, four other homes, 12 stables and five cars were destroyed by the blaze, while one firefighter at the scene described it as "absolute hell".

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The heat and dry conditions had created "the perfect scenario" for fires to spread rapidly across grassland and woodland, Mr Khan said, adding "it was the speed of these fires which was a particular challenge for us to deal with".

Elsewhere in the UK, a number of homes were destroyed by fire in Norfolk, while major incidents were also declared in places including Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire., the BBC said.

LFB said 16 firefighters had heat-related injuries - two of whom were taken to hospital but have since been discharged. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said four from their crews had been taken to hospital but have made a full recovery.

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Despite the fall in temperatures the weather is continuing to affect transport and Network Rail has advised passengers to only travel if necessary - with no direct trains between London and Scotland.

The forecast is still warm but cooler on Wednesday (July 20) but there are warnings in place for thunderstorms.

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