London Fire Brigade sees busiest summer since 2022

"The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has had its busiest summer since the extreme heat of 2022, with 83 wildfires in the capital between June and August. This was more than the summers of 2023 and 2024 combined, although was much lower than the 161 wildfires recorded in summer 2022. The most significant fire saw 25 fire engines and about 125 firefighters called to a grass fire in Dagenham on 14 July, at the height of the third heatwave of the year."

"The LFB said new equipment, improved training and prevention steps had helped to stop damage to properties, but that climate change had increased the risk of wildfires. The summer of 2022 saw London experience its hottest days on record, with temperatures reaching 40C on 19 July 2022. On that day, the LFB attended 1,146 incidents across London and received 2,670 calls."

"Although temperatures in 2025 have not reached the extreme highs of 2022, this summer was nonetheless the UK's hottest on record, according to the Met Office. Climate scientists from the Met Office said that climate change had made summers as hot or hotter than this year 70 times more likely. Last month, researchers at Imperial College London said rising temperatures caused by climate change were creating new phenomena called "firewaves" that threaten UK cities."

The London Fire Brigade recorded 83 wildfires in the capital between June and August, more than the summers of 2023 and 2024 combined but fewer than the 161 fires in summer 2022. The largest incident required 25 fire engines and about 125 firefighters at a grass fire in Dagenham on 14 July during a heatwave. New equipment, improved training and prevention steps helped prevent property damage, while climate change increased wildfire risk by producing drier, hotter conditions. The Met Office reported 2025 as the UK's hottest summer on record and estimated climate change made such hot summers 70 times more likely. Researchers warned of "firewaves" threatening UK cities, and human behaviour was identified as a common fire cause.

Read at www.bbc.com