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ITV News correspondent John Ray reports on fires that wreaked havoc amid unprecedented heat
Forest fires have risen across the UK, setting houses on fire and burning vegetation as temperatures above 40ºC break national records.
About 100 firefighters tackled a fire in the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, with images showing black smoke flying through the air and buildings on fire.
A firefighter at the scene described the conditions as “absolute hell,” while a resident forced to evacuate her home told ITV News that she had no idea if she would find it intact again.
Police officers ordered Lynn Sabberton to leave her home in Wennington after a fire ravaged the village.
“It’s a very good neighborhood, a very good community. I’m sorry if [people] I’ve had kids or small babies … it was a panic, ”Lynn Sabberton said.
After numerous other “major” fires in the capital on Tuesday, London Fire Brigade declared a major incident.
Major incidents require one or more emergency services, the NHS or local authorities to implement special provisions.
A Wild Ken Hill Burned Tuesday Credit: @awprco
Another was declared in Yorkshire, where several forest fires engulfed houses.
Meanwhile, 90 firefighters faced a large fire in Dartford, Kent, while a fire ravaged Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk, the site of the BBC’s Springwatch program. The coastal park is home to thousands of animal species.
After a day of unprecedented fires, the prime minister paid tribute to firefighters and other front-line workers.
Sangita Lal reports from Yorkshire, where numerous fires triggered a major incident
Amid an “unprecedented” scale of fires, London Fire Brigade chief Andy Roe wrote to councils on Tuesday asking for their support for a temporary ban on single-use barbecues in all open spaces.
Met police said the series of fires would require “a continuous presence” overnight. “Officers will also patrol open spaces in the next few hours to make sure Londoners follow the LFB’s advice to keep us safe.
“That includes: Don’t make a barbecue or a bonfire tonight. Don’t leave bottles or glass broken on the floor. Throw cigarettes safely.”
“I ran as fast as I could with the flames behind me”: Steve Rolton, a Wennington resident, about evading a forest fire
Boris Johnson tweeted: “My thanks go to all the firefighters and front line services who are working incredibly hard to keep us safe on this scorching day.
“I urge everyone to continue to follow the advice of emergency services, including @LondonFire as they respond to incidents.”
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Priti Patel has praised “the professionalism and skill of our fire services, which work in difficult conditions to protect lives and communities.”
From outside the Met Office headquarters in Exeter, Rupert Evelyn reports on the UK’s “rather bleak assessment” of the climate agency
The UK reached its hottest temperature on Tuesday, with 40.3 degrees Celsius recorded at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, according to provisional Met Office data.
Coningsby reached 40.3 ºC at approximately 4pm on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 38.7 ºC seen at the Cambridge Botanical Garden in 2019. It occurs when much of England remains below its first red warning of extreme heat.
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