The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident in response to the huge surge in fires we have seen across the capital today caused by the unprecedented temperatures.
“I am in contact with the London Fire Brigade Commissioner and I am doing all I can to support them in ensuring the safety of Londoners as well as the dedicated fire crews who are dealing with a high volume of incidents under immense pressure.
“It’s absolutely vital that Londoners continue to take sensible precautions in this extreme heat, no matter how fit and healthy they may be, to protect not only themselves but help to reduce the pressure on our busy emergency services.
“I’m calling on Londoners not to have barbecues today in parks, gardens, balconies or open spaces, please don't leave broken bottles or glass on the ground and dispose of cigarettes safely. I urge everyone to carry on following heatwave safety advice and continue looking out for the most vulnerable in our city.”