London wildfire tears through suburb as 80 firefighters contain blaze 'It's huge'

A massive grass fire swept through Rainham on Thursday afternoon, with twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters battling the inferno across ten hectares of shrubland.

London Fire Brigade confirmed it was called to the scene on Rainham Road at 2:51pm, sending crews from Wennington, East Ham, Leytonstone, Hainault, and surrounding stations.

The fire was finally under control by 6:21pm, but crews remained into the evening to dampen down the surrounding area.

Melisa Kahrimanovic, a designer at nearby Benchmarx Kitchens, described the dramatic moment it broke out: "It's huge. We just walked out and there was grey smoke filling the air. None of us got too close."

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. A wildfire response vehicle was deployed to assist with the operation, offering crucial off-road capabilities and carrying specialist equipment including misting lances, beaters and a water tank holding around 475 litres.

The Brigade is currently trialling four of these vehicles across London as it steps up efforts to combat a rise in wildfires.

It's the second such blaze to hit Rainham this week. Just a day earlier, six fire engines and around 40 firefighters responded to a grass fire on Lambs Lane North, affecting approximately nine hectares of land.

During that incident, firefighters used a water relay system to ensure a steady supply between the fire and the nearest hydrant. Crews from Dagenham, Wennington, Hornchurch and Harold Hill attended, alongside Essex County Fire & Rescue Service. That fire was brought under control by 5:31pm.

There have been no reports of injuries from either incident, but the rise in grass fires comes as temperatures soar and rainfall remains scarce across the capital.