Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a grass fire in Woolwich earlier today.
Five hectares of grass and shrub lands were alight at the height of the incident, which took place near Shrapnel Close and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said control officers took the first of nearly 40 calls to the fire at 11:27am and sent fire crews from East Greenwich, Eltham, Plumstead, Greenwich and surrounding fire stations to the scene.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 1:07pm, but crews will remain on the scene into the afternoon as they work to extinguish the final pockets of fire and dampen the area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Station Commander Craig Fenner, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked incredibly hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further to nearby properties.
“The smell of smoke is drifting north-east from Shooters Hill due to the wind. People living or working in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed where possible.”
According to the LFB, crews used backpack blowers, which work just like leaf blowers, and wildfire beaters to push back the flames into already burnt areas.
They said the blowers allow them to provide a faster, more efficient response to the wildfires.
Patrick Goulbourne, Assistant Commissioner for Operational Resilience and Control, said: “In these dry conditions, it only takes a spark to start a grass fire and they can spread rapidly, quickly threatening homes, workplaces, infrastructure and the environment.
“If you’re heading to a park or open space to enjoy the sunshine, please don’t take a disposable barbecue with you. Even after they have been extinguished, they can retain heat for many hours and pose a serious fire risk.
“Please also dispose of smoking materials responsibly and either use the bins provided or take your litter home if there are none available.”
Goulbourne also advised residents to keep home barbecues away from anything that could catch fire, suggesting they clear away dry vegetation and garden waste while keeping combustible materials away from buildings.
He added: “Small actions like these can make a big difference in reducing the risk of fire and keeping your community safe.”
