Firefighters across the country have reported major incidents as services have come under immense pressure to deal with multiple fires on the hottest day in the UK since logging began.
In London, South Yorkshire and Leicestershire major incidents were reported due to the number of incidents, and barbecues in private parks and gardens and in courtyards and balconies were advised against, due to the risk of fire.
Residents were evacuated from their homes in the village of Wennington, east London, after flames destroyed buildings and razed nearby fields as temperatures rose to more than 40 degrees Celsius for the first time. At least one house was destroyed by fire, while others appeared to be badly damaged.
A firefighter at the scene, asked by the PA news agency what conditions they were in, replied, “Absolute hell.”
Firefighters after attending to fires that had erupted with extreme heat in Wennington, London. Photography: Leon Neal / Getty Images
A local resident, Janet Hickey, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, said she was forced to leave behind all her cancer medications during the mass evacuation. The 70-year-old said, “I have all my cancer medications in the fridge.”
Her husband, Patrick Hickey, 71, added: “We had to leave everything. We hope against all hope that our house is still there.”
A major incident was also declared in South Yorkshire after firefighters were called in to deal with a series of fires spreading to homes. The worst was in Barnsley when a row of houses in the Moorland Avenue area was consumed by the flames.
Kevin Osborne, a Labor councilor in Barnsley, wrote on Twitter that he believed six houses had been involved in the incident while posting pictures of a house destroyed by the flames.
Local residents launched a crowdfunding page to help those involved, writing to JustGiving: “They have managed to contain the fire, but the houses are completely destroyed. People have been left with nothing.
“Let’s show them the spirit of the Barnsley community and raise some much-needed cash, whether it’s short-term accommodation or to help them rebuild. Thank you for your support.”
Videos on social media showed that several houses in Dagenham, east London, had been destroyed after a “major grass fire” that left a man and a woman in hospital due to the smoke inhalation. At nearby Upminster, 30 fire trucks faced a grass fire on Pea Lane.
The scene of a fire in the village of Wennington, east London, which destroyed several houses. Photography: Yui Mok / PA
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said the London fire brigade had received more than 1,600 calls for assistance in the late hours of Tuesday afternoon.
Jonathan Smith, LFB’s deputy commissioner, told Sky News that many of the fires spread to large areas and started because the ground is “dry.”
Metropolitan police advised people not to light barbecues or bonfires, avoid leaving broken bottles or glasses on the floor and throw cigarettes safely.
The force said: “Our London firefighting counterparts are working incredibly hard to deal with various fires in London in the most difficult conditions. Some of these fires are in widespread areas and will require a constant presence throughout the night.
“Officers have been deployed for these major incidents throughout the day to provide safety and security in the affected areas and support LFB crews.”
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said: “Emergency services working across South Yorkshire have now declared a major incident due to the demand for fire services across the county. Fires are being prioritized over risk for life and risk to property.
“All agencies are working closely to raise resources and minimize risk. Please avoid calling 999 unless life is at risk. More information to follow.”
On Tuesday night, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue halted a major incident in the region when demand for the fire service reached overwhelming levels this afternoon due to unprecedented temperatures.
He tweeted: “Now we are facing an important incident. We have a sufficient level of resources in the organization to respond as always. We want to thank everyone for their support, he has been very grateful.”