Aerial footage shows the fire destroying properties in Wennington as temperatures soared during the heatwave. Dramatic footage has captured a massive house fire on the outskirts of London as a heat wave peaks with temperatures breaking a record 40 degrees Celsius. The capital’s heat has sparked a series of blazes, putting firefighters under extreme pressure and prompting authorities to declare a major incident in the city. Aerial footage showed thick black smoke rising into the air, with buildings and fields burning on Tuesday afternoon in Wennington, in the Havering area of east London, near the Essex border. People were depicted comforting each other as village houses burned and residents fled the inferno. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said firefighters were under “tremendous pressure” and was in direct contact with the Commissioner after a day of fires across the scorching capital. Wennington resident Lynn Sabbertrn told ITV News she had no idea if her home in the village had been damaged after being forced to evacuate. “It’s a very good neighborhood, a very good community. I’m sorry if [people] I had small children or babies… it was such a panic,” she added. London Fire Brigade said 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to the scene just after 1pm. As temperatures topped 40C, the brigade faced an influx of 999 calls to its control room as smoke filled the air from a series of fires. Homes and buildings in the village of Wennington have been reduced to smoking piles of rubble. Credit: PA Dozens of homes appeared to be completely destroyed by the Wennington fire and nearby fields appeared to have been burnt. Freya Gutteridge, 23, from nearby Hornchurch, said: “I noticed the Wennington fire when I went for lunch at two and since then the whole office has just been watching us – everywhere we look there’s a new one. House destroyed by fire in Wennington, east London Credit: Pool “We are all really worried, the wind is strong and we see on the news that many houses are burning and there are not enough fire engines. “It’s crazy. Most of us in the office live really locally, so we’re all worried about families’ homes right now. Fire surrounds another house in Wennington, east London “We know if we were in danger, we would evacuate, but there are gas stations around and things like that, so we’re more afraid for everyone in the area.” Patrick Goulbourn of London Fire Brigade said: “The service remains ready to respond to incidents. A firefighter battles the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, amid 40C heat. Credit: PA “However, we want to make sure our resources are available for people who really need our help. “If you see a smoldering fire, don’t hesitate to call us. “The sooner we learn about a fire, the sooner we can bring it under control and prevent it from spreading further, reducing the need to mobilize additional resources. Charred remains of house in Wennington, East London The Wennington fire is separate to a blaze raging south of the site across the River Thames, off the A2 near Darrell Den, Joyce Green, Dartford, Kent. Footage captured both blazes from the air, showing the fires spewing smoke across London and Kent. Fire crews drive past charred homes in Wennington. Credit: PA Firefighters battled to control the blaze as temperatures in the regions reached 40 degrees Celsius amid a heat wave that is ravaging the country. Elsewhere, grass fires led to a number of calls to the London Fire Brigade. A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The recent hot, dry weather has made the ground extremely dry, which unfortunately means that meadows and parks will burn quickly when exposed to even the smallest of sparks. “Common causes of lawn fires include carelessly discarded cigarettes or matches, as well as litter left around, such as glass bottles, which can start flames by magnifying the sun’s rays. “Each of us can help reduce the risk of fire and keep our communities clean, ensure litter is disposed of safely and cigarettes are always disposed of correctly. “If you see a grass fire, do not attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can travel very quickly and change direction without warning. If you see any signs of smoldering, call the Brigade and let us know where the fire is.’ Fires tackled in London on Tuesday afternoon include:
Thirty fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster. Fifteen fire engines are battling a blaze at The Green in Wennington. Twelve fire engines are battling a blaze involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner. Ten fire engines are battling a blaze at a restaurant on Green Lanes in Southgate. Eight fire engines are battling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon. Eight fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham. Eight fire engines are battling a blaze on Broadway in Wembley. Six fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon. Four fire engines battle a grass fire at Chapel View in Croydon. Four fire engines tackle a blaze on Sidcup Road in Eltham.
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