ITV News Correspondent John Rae reports the fires have wreaked havoc amid unprecedented heat Fires have raged across the UK, torching homes and burning vegetation as temperatures of over 40C break national records. Around 100 firefighters battled a blaze in the east London village of Wennington on Tuesday afternoon, with footage showing black smoke billowing into the air and buildings ablaze. A firefighter at the scene described the conditions as “absolute hell”, while a resident who was forced to evacuate her home told ITV News she had no idea if she would return to find it intact. Lynne Sumberton has been ordered to leave her home in Wennington by police after a fire broke out in the village “It’s a very good neighborhood, a very good community. I’m sorry if [people] I have young children or babies … it was such a panic,” Lynn Sumberton said. After several other “significant” fires in the capital on Tuesday, the London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident. Major incidents require special arrangements to be put in place by one or more of the emergency services, the NHS or local authorities. A burnt Wild Ken Hill on Tuesday Credit: @awprco Another was reported in Yorkshire, where a number of fires engulfed homes. Meanwhile, 90 firefighters tackled a large blaze in Dartford, Kent, while a fire raged at Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk – the site of the BBC’s Springwatch programme. The coastal park is home to thousands of animal species. After a day of unprecedented bushfires, the prime minister paid tribute to firefighters and other frontline workers. Sangita Lal reports from Yorkshire, where several fires have caused a major incident Amid an “unprecedented” scale of fires, London Fire Chief Andy Roe wrote to local councils on Tuesday asking for their support for a temporary ban on single-use barbecues in all open spaces. The Met Police said the number of fires would require “a constant presence” throughout the night. “Officers will also be patrolling open spaces over the next few hours to ensure Londoners follow the LFB’s advice to keep us all safe. “This includes: No barbecues or fires tonight. Do not leave broken bottles or glass on the ground. Dispose of cigarettes safely.” ‘I ran as fast as I could with the flames behind me’: Wennington resident Steve Rolton escaped a blaze Boris Johnson tweeted: “Thank you to all the firefighters and frontline services working incredibly hard to keep us safe on this hot day. “I urge everyone to continue to follow advice from emergency services – including @LondonFire as they respond to incidents.” Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel hailed “the professionalism and ability of our fire services, working in difficult conditions to protect lives and communities”. Outside the Met Office headquarters in Exeter, Rupert Evelyn reports on the UK climate agency’s “pretty grim assessment” The UK recorded its hottest temperature on record on Tuesday, with 40.3C in Coningsby in Lincolnshire, according to provisional Met Office figures. Coningsby reached 40.3C at around 4pm. on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 38.7C seen at Cambridge Botanic Gardens in 2019. It comes as much of England remains under the first red extreme heat warning. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know
