Latest news with #LFB
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
London Fire Brigade saves six trapped people a day
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has revealed it is currently rescuing around six people a day on average, and said most rescues are not from fires. It said it was mainly called to rescue people from behind locked doors, but said in the last 18 months it had also saved a person trapped in a cat flap as well as a number of window cleaners trapped in their cradle at height. LFB urged the public to never worry about calling 999 if trapped. "Sadly, our control officers sometimes receive calls where someone has been too embarrassed to call us and their situation has deteriorated for hours, or even days, before they have sought help," said Group Commander Shaun Coltress. "Whatever the emergency, we will provide advice and assistance without judgement."He added: "Most of our rescues are completed in less than an hour, so it's much better to ask for help than to wait and risk further harm to yourself or others." Rescuing Londoners The brigade's new data revealed that London's firefighters rescued 3,627 people since January 2024 – an average of more than six people a day, including:1,754 people who had collapsed behind a locked door463 people from lifts389 people from special service incidents (such as a child's hand trapped in playground equipment) 318 people from fires275 people from other incident categories229 people who were locked in73 people from road traffic collisions68 people from water and mud incidents58 people from chemical incidents Some of LFB's recent rescues have made headlines on their own. In April 2024, firefighters rescued a man trapped in a trench at a construction site in a few months later, firefighters rescued children and adults at a swimming pool in Wembley, following a chlorine June of this year, one woman from Clapham sought the help of LFB when she was locked out of her brigade said the new data showed the range of scenarios they are equipped to deal with. Group Commander Coltress said: "When people think about rescues, they often imagine a firefighter carrying someone out of a burning building. But, as London's rescue service, we are trained to carry out rescues in a variety of different ways."Our fire engines carry dozens of pieces of equipment, and firefighters are trained to adapt their skills to unique scenarios."
Glasgow Times
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
Footage captures aftermath of wildfires across London
A series of videos taken in Erith, southeast London show a fire tearing across an industrial estate. Twenty-five fire engines and 150 firefighters were called to the scene in Maypole Crescent on Friday (July 11), after flames engulfed a single-storey warehouse. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said that three diggers and numerous vehicles were also alight. Aerial footage shows aftermath of fire which tore through an industrial estate in Erith, southeast London, on July 12, 2025. (Image: Elevate Drones / SWNS) Meanwhile, other videos have captured the aftermath of a fire in Dagenham, east London. The blaze on Monday (July 14) saw residents forced to evacuate their homes, as flames raged across eight hectares of grass, shrubland, and trees. LFB said that 20 fire engines, 125 firefighters, and a wildfire response unit were called to the scene, with the fire under control by 9:45pm. Drone footage of the aftermath shows a huge area of grassland scorched black, while firefighters continue to deploy water. The incidents come as LFB issued a warning for Londoners - saying the capital is at greater risk of grass fires and wildfires following an assessment from the Natural Hazards Partnership. LFB Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Jamie Jenkins, said: "London is experiencing its third heatwave of the summer, which looks like it will last into next week. LFB issued a warning for Londoners - saying the capital is at greater risk of grass fires and wildfires. (Image: Elevate Drones / SWNS) "Whilst many people will be looking forward to spending time in the sunshine, we are also urging everyone to be responsible to prevent wildfires or tragedies around the water. "Despite the heavy rainfall earlier this week, the Natural Hazards Partnership has assessed that the risk of wildfires in London is currently severe. "This is because rainfall overall this year has been well below-average. With very little sign of rain during this heatwave, grass will become even drier, increasing the wildfire risk further each day. "So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 23 wildfires in the capital, including four this week. LFB has shared advice on how to avoid chance of fire. (Image: Elevate Drones / SWNS) "There have also been countless call-outs to smaller fires involving grass, trees, and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people's gardens. "During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly. In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties. Recommended Reading "If you're heading out, please don't take a disposable BBQ with you. They can retain heat for several hours after use and are banned by local authorities from many of London's parks. "Also make sure you are discarding of cigarettes properly and take rubbish home with you if no bins are available. "At home, make sure your BBQ is positioned away from flammable items like fences, sheds, decking, and trees - and please don't have any type of BBQ on your balcony. "We're also strongly advising people to avoid burning any waste in this type of weather and to not have bonfires, particularly in their gardens."
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Three wildfires burn in single evening in London
More than 200 firefighters tackled three separate grass fires in east London on Monday evening. Some residents in Dagenham were asked to temporarily leave their homes after eight hectares (20 acres) of grass, shrubland and trees, fences and garden furniture caught alight near Beam Parklands. Wildfire beaters were later used to tackle flames that destroyed an area of grassland near Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, while firefighters brought a third fire under control at Walthamstow Marshes. The flames have been put out and the cause of the fires is under investigation, as London Fire Brigade (LFB) warns it could be a "challenging summer" due to warm and dry weather conditions. About 125 firefighters tackled the largest blaze in Dagenham, which came close to reaching neighbouring houses. Station commander Matt Hayward said: "Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties. "The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture." Jets and wildfire beaters were used to stop flames reaching the properties, Mr Hayward said. LFB added that fire breaks installed by the local authority had been important in preventing the fire spreading to residential areas. The brigade said that while three such fires in one evening had been "a lot" for firefighters, it was not unheard of and that crews were preparing for more blazes like these. "All of our firefighters have been undergoing enhanced wildfire response training in preparation for what could be another challenging summer," LFB said. It has urged Londoners to act "responsibly" to prevent further fires. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," an LFB spokesperson said. "In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties." In particular, people are being reminded not to use disposable barbecues in parks or fields nor to use them on wooden decking in private areas. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Homes evacuated as grassfire tackled in Dagenham London Fire Brigade
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Dagenham wildfire and two other grass fires under investigation
More than two hundred firefighters tackled three separate grass fires in east London on Monday residents in Dagenham were asked to temporarily leave their homes after eight hectares (20 acres) of grass, shrubland and trees, fences and garden furniture caught alight near Beam beaters were later used to tackle flames that destroyed an area of grassland near Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, while firefighters brought a third fire under control at Walthamstow flames have been put out and the causes of the fires are under investigation, as London Fire Brigade (LFB) warns it could be a "challenging summer" due to warm and dry weather conditions. About 125 firefighters tackled the largest incident in Dagenham, which came close to reaching neighbouring commander Matt Hayward said: "Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties."The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture. Jets and wildfire beaters were used to stop flames reaching the properties, Mr Hayward added that fire breaks installed by the local authority had been important in preventing the fire spreading to residential brigade said that while three such fires in one evening had been "a lot" for firefighters, it was not unheard of and that crews were preparing for more incidents like these."All of our firefighters have been undergoing enhanced wildfire response training in preparation for what could be another challenging summer," LFB has urged Londoners to act "responsibly" to prevent further incidents. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," an LFB spokesperson London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties."In particular, people are being reminded not to use disposable barbecues in parks of fields or to use them on wooden decking in private areas.
Telegraph
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Wildfire erupts in east London
A 19-acre wildfire erupted in east London on Monday night, prompting homes to be evacuated. The conflagration on bone-dry scrubland near Clemence Road, Dagenham, was tackled by 125 firemen and 20 fire engines. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) ordered locals to keep doors and windows shut because of intense smoke billowing from the flames. The fire started at 6.30pm and quickly spread across grass, shrubs, trees, fences and garden furniture. The LFB deployed an off-road wildfire response vehicle, beaters and hoses to the fire, the cause of which is not yet known. A spokesman said that properties had been evacuated 'as a precaution' and advised people to avoid the area due to road closures. The fire service were then called to a 14-acre grass wildfire in nearby Hornchurch at 8.10pm. It dispatched 60 firemen and eight fire engines to the blaze, the cause of which is still unknown. In 2022, a wildfire destroyed around 20 homes in the nearby village of Wennington during a heatwave.
