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Action needed before wildfire season, LFB urges

LFB The village of Wennington from above, with large swathes of grassland burnt and blackened.LFB
The wildfire in Wennington, east London, is thought to have started in a garden

Fire breaks should be introduced to open areas to prevent wildfires this summer, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

Spring is likely to be one of the driest on record, according to the Met Office, and landowners and councils are being asked to play their part to reduce the risks.

Just under half of the capital is considered to be green space, many of which lie next to homes and businesses.

Fire breaks can be created by removing grass or ploughing earth to exclude any flammable vegetation, forming a barrier that prevents the easy spread of flames.

Getty Images Firefighters and engine attending a grass fire in summer 2022, Firefighters wearing red T-shirts and yellow protective trousers look weary and sooty.Getty Images
A number of fires broke out across London that summer

LFB's deputy commissioner Charlie Pugsley said grass fires could spread particularly rapidly, as seen in the capital as well as worldwide in California and South Korea.

In 2022, London experienced record-breaking temperatures and long periods of dry weather that resulted in some of the most severe wildfires the city has ever had.

Getty Images Cars destroyed by fire in a yard on July 25, 2022 in Wennington, Greater LondonGetty Images
Cars in Wennington were destroyed alongside homes during the large blaze in 2022's heatwave

James St John Davis, from the City of London Corporation's natural environment board, said: "As custodians of some of London's most iconic open spaces, we manage complex landscapes that are often right next to people's homes where the threat of wildfire is very real.

"We reduce risk through seasonal grass cutting, natural fire breaks, and widespread staff training to respond swiftly, often before emergency crews arrive. This year we've also invested in three new fire fogging units to tackle contained fires, such as those caused by barbecues."

Getty Images : People and dogs walk across a parched Primrose Hill as a drought is declared in parts of England. Persistent heatwaves resulting from human-induced climate change have affected much of London, with wildfires and droughts seen across the capital. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Getty Images
Dry parched grass allows the fast spread of wildfire

Grass fires can be prevented by avoiding the use of disposable BBQs in parks and open spaces, ensuring cigarettes are put out completely and disposed of correctly, and taking rubbish home if no bins are available.

Homeowners can also help by maintaining their gardens by preventing them becoming overgrown.

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