Ministers must publish an effective national wildfire strategy immediately after new data showed the number of wildfires has more than tripled this summer compared to 2020, London Assembly Members have warned.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said they have responded to 64 wildfires this summer compared to just 19 five years ago, representing a 237 per cent increase.
Higher temperatures and below-average rainfall have been blamed for the rise in blazes, with London at particular risk due to the number of residential areas that border green spaces and parks. Most fires are started by members of the public, whether deliberately or accidentally, according to the LFB.
Image: London Fire Brigade
On Tuesday (August 19) the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said raging wildfires were now an issue on “our doorstep” and said the LFB had received record investment to tackle blazes whenever they do start.
The revelation also sparked calls for the national government to roll out a comprehensive wildfire strategy to deal with the increasing frequency.
Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, Zack Polanski, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “With drier springs and record-breaking hot summers becoming the new normal, every increase in temperature pushes wildfires closer to our doorsteps, threatening our homes and our city’s green spaces.
“The London Fire Brigade and National Fire Chiefs Council have both warned of a heightened risk of wildfires this year, so these figures are sadly no surprise.
“The LFB has learned many lessons since the major wildfire incidents in 2022, but more still needs to be done – which is why this Committee is calling for a national wildfire strategy to tackle this growing threat.”
Hina Bokhari, a Liberal Democrat Assembly Member who sits on the London Assembly Fire Committee, told the LDRS: “The threat of wildfires will only grow as the climate emergency deepens, so every Londoner will need to play their part in preventing them and it will need to be a top priority for the London Fire Brigade.
Image: Wikipedia
Sir Sadiq Khan said: “The climate crisis is having a devastating impact on our environment with temperatures rising in London, across the UK and around the world.
