London firefighters battle 30-acre Romford grass fires as wildfire risk peaks

London Fire Brigade sent 120 firefighters to two separate grass fires in Romford on Wednesday afternoon. The larger blaze, near Eastern Avenue West, consumed 30 acres of grassland and took over two hours to bring under control. A second fire near Southern Way required eight fire engines and 60 firefighters, as reported by the *Evening Standard*.

Control officers received the first emergency call for the Southern Way fire at 4:15 pm. Crews from Leytonstone, Wennington, Homerton, and Bethnal Green arrived on scene, extinguishing the fire by 5:50 pm. The Eastern Avenue West blaze was reported at 5:14 pm, with firefighters from Woodford, Whitechapel, and Barking attending. It was declared under control by 7:16 pm.

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Specialist equipment deployed

The Brigade deployed a Terrain Support Vehicle to assist with the Eastern Avenue West fire. These vehicles are designed for off-road conditions, allowing firefighters to transport equipment closer to grass fires. Each carries 475 litres of water, a backpack blower, beaters, and misting lance technology, which enables crews to pump water while moving, as described by London Fire Brigade.

Wildfire risk reaches 'exceptionally high'

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The fires occurred as temperatures in London exceeded 34°C. The UK Fire Severity Index, managed by Natural England and the Met Office, rated parts of the capital, including Havering, as 'exceptionally high' risk for wildfires on Wednesday. The rest of London remained at 'very high' risk until 2 August, according to the *Evening Standard*.

“Wildfires can spread rapidly, require significant resources and have devastating consequences for people, properties, wildlife and the environment.”

Pam Oparaocha, Assistant Commissioner, London Fire Brigade

Oparaocha warned residents against using disposable barbecues in parks or open spaces. She said even extinguished barbecues can retain heat for hours and pose a fire risk. She also advised against garden fires and urged proper disposal of smoking materials. Barbecues should never be used on balconies and should be kept away from fences, sheds, and wooden decking.

What happens next

The 'very high' wildfire risk for London is expected to remain in place until 2 August. London Fire Brigade has not confirmed whether investigations into the causes of the Romford fires are underway. Residents are advised to follow safety guidance to prevent further incidents during the ongoing heatwave.