London’s fire preparedness amidst European wildfires

The London Assembly Fire Committee has today written to the Mayor, seeking assurances over London’s preparedness for wildfires, following the alarming scenes witnessed across southern Europe this summer.

The devastating wildfires in France and Spain, fuelled by prolonged periods of extreme heat and drought, have once again demonstrated the growing threat that climate change poses to urban and rural communities.

The Committee is seeking assurances over key aspects of London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) summer plans, including:

• The adequacy of LFB's funding, operational capacity, specialist equipment and resilience to respond to multiple simultaneous wildfire incidents during periods of extreme heat, and the evidence underpinning that assessment.
• What assessment has been made of lessons arising from recent wildfire events in Europe and whether these have informed London's preparedness planning.
• What work is being undertaken with London boroughs, land managers, transport providers and other partners to reduce wildfire risk.
• What engagement has taken place with Government regarding the development of a national wildfire strategy.
• What steps the GLA has taken to support and oversee the adoption of technologies that can improve wildfire prevention, detection and response in London (including early detection systems, predictive modelling tools and other emerging technologies).

Anne Clarke AM, Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, said:

"The wildfires we have seen cause havoc across Spain and France have highlighted the devastating affect 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.

“We have today written to Mayor to seek assurances regarding London's preparedness for an increasingly severe wildfire risk.”

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1. Anne Clarke AM, Chair the Fire Committee, is available for interview.
2. Read the letter attached.
3. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
4. Find out more about the work of the Fire Committee

For media enquiries, please contact Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 or at [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.