With swathes of green spaces across France and Spain engulfed in flames, the Mayor of London has said the threat of major wildfires is no longer “faraway”, but on the capital’s “doorstep”.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in the two European nations as firefighters continue to battle some of the worst blazes in history.
Sir Sadiq Khan has now issued a harrowing warning about the potential hazard that London faces after weeks of dry weather, falling humidity and rising temperatures. Simultaneously he is facing calls to reassure Londoners the city is properly prepared.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) revealed it was called to more than 1,300 incidents across the capital during the past week alone, and with vegetation so dry there’s the constant risk of a localised fire spreading more widely.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health alert for a significant proportion of the UK, including London, as temperatures are set to reach a peak of 33 degrees Celsius in the capital on Wednesday (July 29).
The UK Fire Severity Index Map, produced by the Met Office, suggests London will be at risk of “very high” wildfire severity until this Sunday.
On Wednesday, in some parts of the capital, including Bromley, Croydon and Thamesmead, the risk is deemed “exceptionally high”.
The capital has experienced wildfires in the past, including devastating outbreaks on Wanstead Flats in Newham in 2018 and dozens of major incidents in the 2022 heatwave.
This included the destruction of 19 homes in Wennington on the hottest day of the year, as well as blazes in Dagenham, Uxbridge and Erith.
Ash rains down on residents as they watch their houses burn down
Last year saw the highest number of wildfires in London since that summer of extreme heat, with 83 recorded by the LFB in June, July and August.
So far 2026 has seen the LFB continue to be stretched by call outs, with 2,729 emergency calls handled between last Friday and Sunday alone.
On Saturday crews responded to 473 incidents, including a large fire at a block of flats in Mitcham and a grass fire which destroyed 10 acres of land in Rainham.
Is London Fire Brigade funded and equipped?
The LDRS understands the London Assembly Fire Committee will write to the Mayor of London on Wednesday to seek assurances over the city’s preparedness for future blazes.
The cross-party group of Assembly Members asked Sir Sadiq for an urgent written response to queries around the adequacy of the LFB’s “funding, operational capacity, specialist equipment and resilience to respond to multiple simultaneous wildfire incidents during periods of extreme heat”.
They also asked if City Hall had assessed lessons from France and Spain’s current experience, and what steps the GLA has taken to introduce technology that can “improve wildfire prevention, detection and response in London”.
Committee Chair and Labour Assembly Member Anne Clarke said: “The wildfires we have seen cause havoc across Spain and France have highlighted the devastating effect wildfires can have. London is no longer immune to these risks.
“In 2022, we saw fires break out across areas of open green space in London, destroying homes and stretching firefighting resources to their limits. With rising temperatures, our green spaces are becoming drier and more susceptible to wildfires.”
City Hall set aside £251.5million in 2026-27 for the London Fire Commissioner, an increase of around £20million on the previous year.
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari said she was concerned about funding levels for training up new and existing firefighters, telling the LDRS: “Climate change is hitting home, and this is no time to run the London Fire Brigade on a shoestring.
“Our firefighters need to be properly trained and ready to deal with the growing threat of wildfires, on top of so many other challenges. Yet the funding for that vital training has still not been secured for the long term.
“The Mayor must guarantee sustainable funding now, so the Brigade can prepare properly for the risks London faces rather than scrambling for money year by year.”
Firefighter advice
The LFB say they have specialist Terrain Support Vehicles on standby ready to attend any incidents during a period of “heightened risk”.
Officials have also appealed to the public to play their part, including taking care with barbecues, and have recommended that local authorities create ‘fire breaks’ – gaps in vegetation or any combustible material that can help stop or slow the spread of a wildfire if one does start.
LFB Assistant Commissioner Pam Oparaocha told the LDRS: “Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire and particularly when that grass is tinder dry, the spread of fire can be rapid.
“We have seen some examples of this in London this summer and there have been devastating fires in Derbyshire, the Isle of Wight and in the Cairngorms in recent weeks.
“The rapid spread of fire can be particularly worrying if it is in the direction of homes and livelihoods so it is vital we all do what we can to protect those areas ahead of periods of hot and dry weather.
“The Brigade has invested in new equipment and made improvements to how we plan, train and respond to grass fires but we hope the actions we’re asking local authorities and landowners to take will help minimise impact and disruption, particularly in light of the weather conditions we have been seeing and what we might see over the coming weeks.
“The Brigade is ready and prepared to respond to all types of incidents but we urge everyone to play their part to prevent incidents, such as wildfires, which can be time-consuming to resolve and draw significantly on our resources and have devastating impacts on livelihoods, from occurring in the first place.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor’s record investment in London Fire Brigade has ensured that it is now better prepared, organised and equipped to fight wildfires and keep all Londoners safe.
“This includes improved training, new specialist wildfire response vehicles and the use of drones, specialist hoses and backpack blowers designed to protect people, property and green spaces.
“These improvements are helping to ensure the Brigade is able to meet the surge in demand it is experiencing during successive heatwaves.
“Sadiq will continue to work with the Government to ensure the Brigade has the funding it needs, as we build a safer London for everyone.”
