FIREFIGHTERS are warning residents to take extra care to avoid grass fires during the hot summer, after a 25 percent rise in the number of incidents across London.

There were 72 grass fires in Redbridge in the first six months of the year, and weather experts have said this July was one of the driest on record.

Around 20 firefighters tackled a grass fire on Roding Lane North in Woodford Bridge on Sunday (August 1), which scorched around two hectares of heathland.

Despite downpours this week, the hot weather looks set to continue and fire chiefs are urging people to take extra care over the coming weeks.

Richard Binder, London Fire Brigade’s borough commander for Redbridge said: “Grass can go up like a tinder box in these dry conditions, which is why we always see a surge in the number of grass fires in the summer.

“This so called ‘smouldering summer’ will undoubtedly continue unless people take greater care with things like cigarettes and barbecues.”

Grass fires can be set deliberately or started accidentally, and both are a huge risk to wildlife, parkland and people’s lives.

The main causes of accidental grass fires are barbecues, cigarettes, discarded matches and glass bottles, which, when left on dry grass can concentrate the sun’s rays and cause fires.

Firefighters urge anyone who sees a grass fire not to attempt to put it out themselves, but call 999 immediately.