From fire to floods to fire: London Fire Brigade warning as more dry weather due – Evening Standard

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ondon firefighters who have spent weeks tackling grass fires - followed by hundreds of calls to flash flooding on Wednesday - are urging vigilance with more dry weather on the way.

The incredibly busy time has led London Fire Brigades (LFB) assistant commissioner to issue an appeal, urging people to take care with barbecues and cigarettes.

Firefighters saw a huge spike in call-outs after prolonged dry weather led to drought and tinder-dry conditions.

In the first week of August alone, London crews tackled 340 grass and open land fires - more than eight times as many as the same week last year.

In July, on the UKs hottest day on record, LFB saw its busiest 24 hours since the Second World War.

But heavy rain this week didnt improve things for the busy service.

Two women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off in Trafalgar Square

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A police officer givers water to a British soldier wearing a traditional bearskin hat, on guard duty outside Buckingham Palace

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People take pictures of the sunset from Greenwich Park view point

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Empty shelves in the water aisle of Sainsbury Nine Elms in London

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A man cools off in a fountain during the hot weather in London

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People sit and lie in the sun and shade backdropped by Tower Bridge

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Children cool off in the Southbank Centre fountain

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A man uses a newspaper as a fan whilst travelling on the Bakerloo line

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Two people under an umbrella in Londons Regents Park

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Sunrise over London

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Swimmers soak up the sun at Charlton Lido in south east London

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A sign warning passengers of traveling in the heat on the Bakerloo line

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A police officer poring water water on a police horse on Whitehall i

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Western lowland gorilla enjoys an ice lolly at London Zoo

A person holds a thermometer at Oxford Circus station of the London underground

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Commuters on London Bridge feel the heat at 8.30am

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A young family of Tufted ducks run past a soldier from the Queens Guard on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace during warm weather

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Commuters in London

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LFB typically takes about 450 calls a day but, on Wednesday, as thunderstorms hit London causing flash flooding, it received 1,290 calls - 40 per cent of which were related to floods.

The intense period of call-outs has sparked a plea from LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who said: Its been an incredibly busy time for firefighters and control officers who have been working around the clock with our partners to keep Londoners safe, whether that be from the intense grass fires weve seen or flooding.

When the ground is incredibly dry its harder for water to be absorbed, which is why weve seen flash flooding as the water pools on the surface, but it also means that grasslands are still parched.

In the coming days were expecting more dry weather, so please continue to help us prevent grass fires by not barbecuing on open land, clearing away rubbish and glass and safely disposing of cigarettes.

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From fire to floods to fire: London Fire Brigade warning as more dry weather due - Evening Standard