Firefighters tackled two huge blazes 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 battled both blazes raging in west and east London at 4.30pm. Nearly 30 homes were saved after 70 firefighters worked in “hot, grueling conditions” to tackle the blaze in Feltham’s Hereford Road. 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, consuming about 15 hectares of arable land. Grazing horses were herded to safety with a number of farmhouses being evacuated by police
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At the source of the Feltham fire, neighbors captured dramatic footage of huge flames licking up their garden fences before fleeing their homes. A firefighter tackles a blaze in Hounslow / LFB Some locals retreated to the Railway Club social club which opened its doors so people could take refuge. 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 garden / @RhysCollison He said: “It wasn’t what you wanted on Sunday.” Neighbor Avni Dudhia, 32, said: “For about 40 minutes at least 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 spread to the trees on the right, so much smoke as well.” Feltham fire (Ethan Cheesman/PA) / PA Medium Station Commander Tamer Ozdemir, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked incredibly hard in hot, strenuous conditions to stop the fire spreading to nearby properties. “Their hard work has saved around 30 homes on Hereford Road. “Approximately 60 residents were evacuated due to the amount of smoke.” The smoke could be seen for miles / PA A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the force received 44 calls to the fire. They said the cause of the fire is not known at this stage.” Hounslow Council hailed firefighters who finally brought the blaze under control. In a statement, they said they are already cutting back vegetation and funding extra ground patrols to prevent further fires following the Aug. 2 Hanworth Park fire. Their advice to the public, they say, is clear:
Do not light barbecues or bonfires in parks. Do not throw away cigarette butts carelessly, even if you think they are out. Don’t leave litter in our parks – items like glass bottles can magnify the sun’s rays and cause fires.
The Newbury Park fire blackened large areas of farmland with horses being led to safety by police. There were no reports of injuries. Grass fire on Oaks Lane in Newbury Park / LFB A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The warmer weather we’ve had has made the ground extremely dry, which unfortunately means that meadows, parks, heathland and woodland will burn quickly when exposed to even the smallest sparks. “We don’t want people to be complacent and that means not barbecuing in parks and open spaces, making sure cigarettes are properly disposed of and litter and glass removed as they can magnify the sun and cause fires.” It came after three other fires destroyed acres of land in Rainham, Upminster and Woolwich on Friday and Saturday. There are fears more fires could be sparked as Britain braces for another heat wave that will outlast July’s record heatwave, with highs of up to 35C expected next week. Temperatures over the next few days will remain cooler than last month’s 40.3C, but dry weather will continue for a “prolonged period”, the Met Office said. The whole of England and Wales is likely to see sunny and dry conditions next week as high pressure builds across the UK.
