“ Fire crews are battling wildfires across Britain today as
sweltering 40C temperatures on the hottest day in UK history turn the countryside into a 'tinderbox'.
London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident and scrambled more than 100 fire engines to tackle
blazes in Upminster, Wennington, Pinner, Southgate,
Croydon, Dagenham, Wembley, Hendon and Eltham. Fires have also broken out
in Dartford and Cornwall's Zennor and Nare Head.
Around a hundred firefighters are tackling a massive blaze in the village of Wennington, east London,
with TV footage showing buildings and fields on fire and thick black smoke billowing into the air. At least two houses
appear to have been gutted and several buildings damaged in the fire, while smoke covered a wide area
and nearby fields lay scorched.
Homes were also seen on fire in Woodland Drive, Barnsley
in South Yorkshire today with people offered refuge in a nearby school.
LFB said in a statement it is battling 'several significant' incidents in the capital, as people have been urged not
to have barbecues or bonfires due to the 'unprecedented' challenges crews face.
Another blaze at 7pm also led to David Lloyd Hampton golf course in Staines Road, Twickenham
led to homes in the area also being evacuated and roads closed.
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