Wildfire damages Forty Hall Estate grassland
Firefighters battled a blaze across two hectares of land on Friday afternoon.
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From the archive. This story was written up on 29 July 2026 from reporting first published on 20 July 2026, which is the date shown above. We took up the back catalogue of the local titles we read when this site launched, so the events are older than the page.
A significant wildfire erupted at Forty Hall Estate on Friday, July 17th, damaging around two hectares of grassland. The blaze required a substantial response from the London Fire Brigade (LFB), with four fire engines and approximately 25 firefighters attending the scene.
The fire took hold between 1:12pm and 3:11pm. Crews employed specialist equipment, including 'backpack blowers' and wildfire 'beaters', to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading further into the estate's wooded areas. A shift in wind direction also aided efforts to control the fire, directing it away from sensitive sites.
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The incident occurred during a period of hot and dry weather across the capital. Enfield borough, where the estate is located, had not experienced significant rainfall for approximately one month prior to the wildfire. The LFB has issued repeated warnings regarding the heightened risk of wildfires due to such conditions.
Volunteers from the Enfield Archaeological Society, who were conducting an excavation on the site of Elsyng Palace within the estate, observed the fire's rapid spread. They noted its initial alarming movement towards their dig site before the change in wind direction provided some relief.
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The precise cause of the wildfire at Forty Hall Estate is currently under investigation by the LFB. No further details regarding the origin of the blaze have been released.
Questions this report answers
+How much land was damaged by the wildfire?
Around two hectares of grassland at Forty Hall Estate were affected by the wildfire. This represents a significant portion of the estate's open grassland areas, which are part of its historic landscape.
+How many firefighters attended the blaze?
Approximately 25 firefighters attended the scene, supported by four fire engines. Their efforts included using specialist equipment to contain the flames and prevent further spread into wooded areas.
+When did the wildfire occur?
The wildfire took hold between 1:12pm and 3:11pm on Friday, July 17th. The timing coincided with a period of hot and dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires across the capital.
+What caused the wildfire?
The precise cause of the wildfire is currently under investigation by the London Fire Brigade. No further details regarding the origin of the blaze have been released at this stage.
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