By Angela Daniels–
Two fierce wildfires raged in Croydon with 25 firefighters battling the flames yesterday, as temperatures reached a scorching 40C with unprecedented risk-to-life warnings across the capital.
The fire quickly engulfed whole areas at once with smoke billowing from Shirley Hills.
Four London Fire Brigade fire engines attended the first fire near Oaks Road at 12.07pm. Another four fire engines were sent to another blaze near Chapel View.
Firefighters were called to the fire at 12.20pm, where around one hectare of woodland was burning. Firefighters fought for several hours to put out the flames
The London Fire Brigade declared a major incident as horrifying images show flames ripping through houses and fields nearby. Earlier today, two wildfires that started near Croydon were being fought by firefighters from London Fire Brigade, while a hue of smoke could be seen near Dartford Crossing this afternoon.
At 12:07pm, a woodland fire near Oaks Road was first reported in Shirley Hills by a fire engine. At that time, 25 firefighters were dispatched to put out the fire. Amidst one of the warmest days on
record,.
Multiple wildfires were raging across the country dueto the blazing heat that crept up into the
40 degree mark by midday. Londoners have been asked not to barbecue tonight or tomorrow due to the UK reaching record temperatures of 40.3C in Lincolnshire and with fires spreading to parts of Greater London.
The heat caused many people to stay inside as transport infrastructure waivers
and grasslands burnt away. Some ventured out to enjoy the hot weather. Grant Shapps Secretary of State for Transport has said; the UK transport network can’t handle the extreme heat, with temperatures rising to 41C in parts of the country, making the country hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives, and Barbados, and that the hot weather today will affect most routes across England and
Wales, according to National Rail with customers advised to only travel
As a major incident was declared in London, the fire brigade was put under enormous pressure to tackle at least seven different blazes around the capital in the same day. The most severe of the fires raged on the edge of East London. In the village of Wennington fire spread to houses leaving several destroyed.
Homes were also evacuated in Dagenham, where there were fears of a gas explosion. And other blazes broke out in Pinner, Wembley, Kenton, Walthamstow, Upminster, Eltham and Dartford as the fire brigade resources struggled to cope.