The London Fire Brigade has issued a warning after four hectares of Woolwich Common were damaged in a fire on bank holiday Monday.

Eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters attended the first after the first of 26 calls was received at about 11am. The fire was largely put out by 2pm. Crews from East Greenwich, Plumstead, Eltham, Greenwich, Deptford and Lee Green were called out, along with a drone and a wildfire response unit from Biggin Hill.

The brigade is trialling four wildfire response vehicles across Greater London and they have been deployed at about 40 incidents this year.

Six fire engines also attended a fire at Farthing Street, in the countryside near Downe, near the Kent border, while elsewhere in the capital there were also fires in Enfield and Feltham.

While the weather has turned cooler, the brigade is warning people to not to use disposable barbecues or drop lit cigarettes.

Damaged Woolwich Common
Four hectares of the common were damaged by the fire. Image: The Greenwich Wire

A fire brigade spokesperson said: “Grass fires are commonly caused by human behaviour, whether that be accidental or deliberate. Whilst it can be difficult to determine the causes of these types of fires, the use of disposable BBQs and careless discarding of cigarettes are regularly the cause of outdoor fires. It is also important to place your rubbish with you, if a suitable bin isn’t available as it can ignite and quickly start a fire. 

“While some wildfires can occur naturally, particularly during spells of extreme dryness and heat, the majority of these fires can be easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly.  

“What might seem like harmless fun has the potential to have devastating consequences especially in London when so many of our green spaces lie close to properties. There is also the impact on wildlife and the ability for others to enjoy their local green spaces. These types of incidents can also have a impact on our resources and wildfires can be challenging for firefighters to deal with on the ground, especially if it is hot.”

In April, 25 firefighters put out a wildfire at Bostall Woods.

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