Amid record-breaking temperatures reaching 33°C, London faces an unprecedented rise in wildfires, prompting the Fire Brigade to warn residents against disposable barbecues and careless littering. With over 1,100 incidents attended in a single day and reinforced emergency teams now in place, officials call for urgent climate preparedness as the city braces for hotter, drier summers.
A severe fire warning has been issued for London as the city continues to face extreme heat and dry conditions during a record-breaking heatwave. Temperatures in the capital are expected to soar to around 33°C, creating a heightened risk of wildfires. London’s fire chief, Thomas Goodall, highlighted that the combination of high temperatures and prolonged low rainfall has created a particularly severe fire risk, exacerbated by the proximity of homes to green spaces throughout the city. He urged residents to act responsibly to prevent fires from igniting, especially as firefighters have already attended 14 wildfires this year.
Goodall warned against the use of disposable barbecues and those on balconies, citing the danger they pose even hours after use due to retained heat. He also emphasised the importance of properly discarding cigarettes and taking rubbish home when bins are unavailable, stressing that even a few sparks can lead to rapidly spreading fires in London’s dry conditions. The fire chief noted that firefighters have responded to numerous smaller fires involving grass, trees, and gardens, adding to the pressure on emergency services.
This warning follows a surge in wildfires across London, with the London Fire Brigade recently responding to two grass fires in Rainham within 24 hours. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne further highlighted the need for public vigilance, reiterating the risks posed by disposable barbecues and careless disposal of smoking materials. The brigade has urged people to avoid barbecues in parks and ensure rubbish is properly taken away or disposed of.
The situation in London is part of a broader pattern across the UK, which has seen record-breaking temperatures, including a new national high of 40.3°C recorded in Lincolnshire. The extreme heat has led to several major fires, including a significant blaze in Wennington, east London, which destroyed homes and fields and required evacuations. The London Fire Brigade described the scale of these fires as unprecedented, with crews attending more incidents in recent heatwaves than at any other time since the Second World War. On one particularly busy day alone, firefighters responded to over 1,100 incidents.
In preparation for the increasing threat posed by hotter and drier summers, the London Fire Brigade has bolstered its capabilities with 100 additional recruits specifically trained in tackling wildfires. This year’s heatwave follows the hottest June on record, signalling the ongoing impact of the climate emergency, which emergency services anticipate will contribute to more frequent and severe fires in the future.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has commended the fire brigade for their swift and effective response during these challenging conditions, praising the “nimbleness” of the service under extraordinary pressure. Meanwhile, experts and fire officials have called the incidents a “wake-up call” on climate change, underscoring the urgent need for long-term strategies and improved preparedness as extreme weather events become more common.
The public is advised to heed warnings carefully, avoid risky behaviours with fire, and remain vigilant in protecting the capital’s green spaces and residential areas from further wildfire outbreaks.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/2075070/severe-fire-warning-issued-entire – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.nationalworld.com/news/weather/london-wildfire-warning-firefighters-warn-of-blaze-risk-during-30c-heatwave-after-two-grass-fires-5188183 – Firefighters in London have issued an urgent warning about the growing risk of wildfires as temperatures hit 30°C. The London Fire Brigade responded to two grass fires in Rainham within 24 hours, highlighting the heightened threat posed by dry conditions. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne emphasized the importance of public vigilance, advising against the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public areas due to their significant fire risk. Proper disposal of cigarette butts and taking rubbish home when bins are unavailable are also crucial to prevent potential fires.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/major-incident-london-fires-surge-heatwave-uk-weather-b1013436.html – A major incident was declared in London as fires surged amid a record heatwave, with temperatures reaching 40.3°C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The London Fire Brigade faced immense pressure, tackling significant blazes across the capital. The Wennington fire in east London destroyed homes and fields, with residents evacuated. Firefighters warned of the unprecedented scale of fires during the heatwave, urging the public to avoid barbecues and to dispose of cigarettes properly to prevent further incidents.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-fire-brigade-heatwave-wildfire-europe-b1095120.html – London Fire Brigade is better prepared for potential heatwaves this summer, with 100 extra recruits equipped with in-depth wildfire training and new equipment. The service has been working year-round in anticipation of another possible heatwave after record-breaking 40°C temperatures last July. The brigade is expecting more grass fires and wildfires in London due to the climate emergency, and the Met Office has already confirmed that June this year was the hottest June on record.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62217282 – The UK has recorded temperatures over 40°C for the first time, with thermometers hitting 40.3°C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Several fire services declared major incidents after a surge in fires, including a significant blaze in Wennington, east London, which left homes gutted. Firefighters have been tackling blazes across London, with residents evacuated and properties destroyed. The unprecedented heatwave has led to major travel disruptions and raised concerns about climate change.
- https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/london-fire-brigade-jonathan-smith-west-yorkshire-fire-and-rescue-service-met-office-wales-b2127544.html – The outbreak of hundreds of fires amid record temperatures has been labelled a ‘wake-up call’ on climate change. As temperatures climbed above 40°C for the first time, major fire incidents were declared in London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and South Yorkshire amid the tinder-dry conditions. London Fire Brigade had its busiest day since the Second World War, with crews attending 1,146 incidents on that day alone. Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Smith emphasized the need for long-term strategies to deal with more incidents like this in the future.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/london-fire-sadiq-khan-europe-b2128631.html – Devastating fires across London during the hottest temperatures on record were ‘unprecedented’, according to the head of London Fire Brigade. London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe met London Mayor Sadiq Khan to pay tribute to the work of firefighters during the extreme heat. The mayor expressed pride in the ‘nimbleness’ of the fire service, which saw its busiest day since the Second World War on Tuesday as a result of the extreme temperatures, with crews attending 1,146 incidents on that day alone.
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
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Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The narrative is current, dated June 30, 2025, and aligns with recent events. However, similar warnings have been issued in the past, such as on June 19, 2025, by the London Fire Brigade. (https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/2025-news/june/wildfire-warning-issued-for-london-as-people-urged-to-act-responsibly-during-the-heatwave/?utm_source=openai) The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Additionally, there is a discrepancy in the reported temperature: the highest recorded in London in June 2025 was 33°C, not 40.3°C as stated, which may indicate inaccuracy.
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