Recent grass fires across London have shown how quickly dry grass and litter can fuel a fire. Closer to home, incidents have affected Greenford, Horsenden and Gunnersbury. These fires causing damage to valuable grassland and wildlife habitats.
Risk of wildfires: Severe
Ealing Council and the London Fire Brigade are urging the public to help prevent fires in parks and spaces after recent grass fires. This comes as London Fire Brigade has said the risk of wildfire across London is currently ‘severe’ because the ongoing heatwave and dry weather have meant that fire is much more likely to spread quickly.
To help reduce the risk, Ealing Council Parks Rangers are carrying out extra patrols in higher-risk areas. Also cutting longer grass earlier than scheduled and creating fire breaks to help stop fires from spreading.
Prevent grass fires
We can all play a part in protecting Ealing’s parks, nature reserves and green spaces.
Barbecues can cause fires when smouldering ash and embers are carried by the wind onto areas of dry grass.
Choose a picnic instead of a barbecue in the park. Barbecues are banned in Ealing’s public parks and green spaces.
Protect parks from grass fires by:
- Take your rubbish home.
- Take extra care to ensure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of safely.
- Dispose of them safely and responsibly.
- Do not litter your cigarette butts.
- Don’t drop cigarettes onto dry ground or throw them from car windows.
- Taking glass bottles home and never leaving them behind, as they magnify the suns rays and can spark a fire.
What to do if you discover a wildfire
- Stay well away from wildfires as fire can smoulder or spread underground.
- Make sure you’re in a safe place (away from vegetation and smoke). Stay calm and call 999 immediately.
- If you’re in your car, close all windows and vents.
- When you call 999 be as precise as you can about the location, the size and any other information. The free what3words app can help you pinpoint your location, so download it now.
- Don’t try to tackle the fire yourself.
For full guidance and fire safety advice, visit London Fire brigade https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/grass-and-wildfires
Remove combustible materials
To prevent fires spreading to your garden and how, remove anything flammable, like dry grass or piles of rubbish.
- Keep grass cut short (below 7cm).
- Consider cutting back trees and shrubs that are close to your home.
- Dispose of your garden waste responsibly.
- If possible, create a fire break around your property. You can do this by clearing 2-3m around all sides of your home and garden.
- Clear flammable debris, like dead leaves, from your garden and guttering.
- Try to position any sheds or garden furniture away from your home.
- Keeping your garden watered in dry spells makes it less combustible. If a hosepipe ban is in place, consider using water butts or wastewater from your home to water your garden.
The issue is hot embers, carried by the wind, can travel very far and start new fires a long way from the original wildfire, see London Fire brigade video on Wildfires – protecting your home and garden.
Compost heaps can also be a source of grass fires, so if you have one in your garden or allotment, follow the advice below:
- Keep compost heaps, as well as any flammable material, away from buildings and other structures.
- Keep your pile moist. If you’re worried that it’s too dry and could be a fire risk, use a watering can or hose to add a bit more moisture.
- Keep a good balance of green and brown materials.
- Keep turning the pile so the heat dissipates.
Arson
Arson (deliberate firesetting) is a criminal offence that can lead to loss of life and injury. It can damage property and have a negative effect on the environment. Setting a fire in parks and open spaces such as grasslands, wooded areas, sports grounds and allotments not only kills wildlife, it can cause widespread damage especially during extreme hot and dry weather.
If you see any suspicious activity report it by calling either: Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the police on 101.
London Fire Brigade also offers free one-to-one fire safety education to children and young people who have demonstrated any type of firesetting or fire play and provide advice to parents and carers. Visit our Firesetting Intervention Scheme page to find out more.
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