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firefighters tackled two huge bushfires on either side of the capital on Sunday as London braces for a second 35C heatwave this week.
More than 70 people were evacuated from their homes as firefighters tackled bushfires raging across west and east London at 4.30pm.
Nearly 30 homes were saved after 70 firefighters worked in “hot, tough conditions” to tackle the blaze which broke out in Hereford Road, Feltham.
People living miles away in both Uxbridge and Twickenham reported heavy ash falling from the sky.
At the same time, a grass fire broke out in Newbury Park, eating about 15 hectares of farmland. Grazing horses were taken to safety and a number of farms were evacuated by police
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At the source of the blaze in Feltham, neighbors recorded dramatic footage of huge flames licking up their garden fences before leaving their homes.
A firefighter tackles raging flames in Hounslow
/ LFB
Some locals retreated to the Railway Club Social Club, which opened its doors for people to take shelter.
Rhys Collison posted a video of his back garden going up in flames with the caption ‘BBQ cancelled’.
Huge flames at the back of Rhys’s garden
/ @RhysCollison
He said: “It wasn’t what you wanted on Sunday.”
Neighbor Avni Dudhia, 32, said: “For at least about 40 minutes it was just flames and very thick dark smoke.
“Our house is probably about 600 to 700 meters from the fire.
“It was definitely scary as you could see how quickly the fire was spreading through the trees to the right, so much smoke as well.”
The Feltham Fire (Ethan Cheesman/Pennsylvania)
/ PA Media
Station Commander Tamer Ozdemir, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked incredibly hard in hot, difficult conditions to stop the fire spreading to nearby properties.
“Their hard work has saved approximately 30 homes in Hereford Road.
“Approximately 60 residents were evacuated due to the amount of smoke.”
The smoke could be seen for miles
/ PA
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said the force had received 44 calls to the fire. They said the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.
Hounslow Council hailed firefighters for eventually getting the blaze under control. In a statement, they said they were already reducing vegetation and funding extra ground officer patrols to prevent further fires after Hanworth Park burst into flames on August 2.
Their advice to the public, they say, is clear:
- Do not light barbecues and fires in parks.
- Don’t carelessly throw away cigarette butts, even if you think they’re gone.
- Don’t leave litter in our parks – items like glass bottles can increase the sun’s rays and cause fires.
The Newbury Park fire blackened large areas of farmland with horses being led to safety by police officers.
There are no reports of casualties.
Grass fire on Oaks Lane in Newbury Park
/ LFB
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The warmer weather we are having is making the ground extremely dry which unfortunately means that grasslands, parks, bushland and woodland will burn quickly when exposed to even the tiniest of sparks.
“We don’t want people to be complacent and that means not barbecuing in parks and open spaces, ensuring cigarettes are properly disposed of and cleaning up litter and glass as they can magnify the sun and cause a fire .”
It comes after three other grass fires destroyed acres of land in Raynham, Upminster and Woolwich on Friday and Saturday.
There are fears more bushfires could be sparked as Britain braces for another heatwave that will last longer than July’s record hot spell, with highs of 35C expected next week.
Temperatures over the coming days will remain cooler than last month’s scorching 40.3C, but the dry spell will continue for a “prolonged period”, the Met Office said.
The whole of England and Wales is likely to see sunshine and dry conditions next week as high pressure builds across the UK.
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