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A huge tower of smoke can be seen over London as 125 firefighters try to stop a raging wildfire from engulfing a country park.

Locals are being evacuated as fire engines try to douse the out-of-control grass fire in Beam Valley Country Park in Dagenham.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) say the area is around eight hectares of grass, shrubland and trees, as well as fences and garden furniture.

Dagenham grassfire
A huge wildfire has broken out in Dagenham (Pictures: UKNIP)

An LFB spokesman said: ‘Residents are advised to keep their doors and windows shut due to the smoke and the public is advised to avoid the area due to road closures.’

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

A huge grass fire has broken out behind Clemence Road in Dagenham, with around 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines battling the blaze, which has already scorched eight hectares of grassland, shrubbery, and woodland. The fire, which also involves fences and garden furniture, prompted emergency evacuations of nearby homes. Thick smoke can be seen across parts of Beam Valley Country Park, and residents are urged to keep all doors and windows shut. Firefighters from Multiple Stations Respond The London Fire Brigade???s Control Office began receiving over 75 calls about the fire just after 18:30. Crews from Dagenham, Hornchurch, Wennington, Romford, and other surrounding stations are on scene. A spokesperson confirmed: ???Firefighters are tackling a fire involving around eight hectares of grass, shrubland and trees. Nearby properties are being evacuated as a precaution.??? Public Safety Alert and Road Closures Emergency services have cordoned off roads in the RM10 area, with members of the public advised to avoid the scene entirely. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage, and investigations will begin once the fire is under control. Ongoing Coverage The incident comes amid extremely dry conditions during the UK???s heatwave, raising concerns of further wildfires in coming days. This is a developing emergency, and further updates will be provided throughout the evening.
A huge grass fire blocks out the sun as firefighters try to tackle blaze (Credits: UKNIP)

A wildfire response vehicle has been deployed to the east London inferno.

A huge grass fire has broken out behind Clemence Road in Dagenham, with around 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines battling the blaze, which has already scorched eight hectares of grassland, shrubbery, and woodland. The fire, which also involves fences and garden furniture, prompted emergency evacuations of nearby homes. Thick smoke can be seen across parts of Beam Valley Country Park, and residents are urged to keep all doors and windows shut. Firefighters from Multiple Stations Respond The London Fire Brigade???s Control Office began receiving over 75 calls about the fire just after 18:30. Crews from Dagenham, Hornchurch, Wennington, Romford, and other surrounding stations are on scene. A spokesperson confirmed: ???Firefighters are tackling a fire involving around eight hectares of grass, shrubland and trees. Nearby properties are being evacuated as a precaution.??? Public Safety Alert and Road Closures Emergency services have cordoned off roads in the RM10 area, with members of the public advised to avoid the scene entirely. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage, and investigations will begin once the fire is under control. Ongoing Coverage The incident comes amid extremely dry conditions during the UK???s heatwave, raising concerns of further wildfires in coming days. This is a developing emergency, and further updates will be provided throughout the evening.
A huge grass fire has broken out behind Clemence Road in Dagenham (Credits: UKNIP)

A spokesperson for LFB added: ‘These vehicles provide off-road capability enabling the transportation of additional equipment closer to fires on open ground.

‘Each vehicle carries approximately 475 litres of water, a backpack blower, ear defenders, beaters and misting lance technology, which allows firefighters to pump water and drive, enabling them to tackle grass fires more quickly and safely.’

Less than two hours later, another wildfire broke out consuming six hectares of grassland behind homes in Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch. 

The LFB also said the cause of the fire, less than five miles away from the Dagenham blaze, was still unknown.

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A burned left the Maldon fire. (Pictures: Essex Fire Rescue)

It came after Essex fire service said another huge fire in Maldon ‘was started deliberately’.

A hectare of field caught fire near Chelmer Blackwater Reserve.

A spokesman said: ‘Many wildfires are started deliberately or are due to careless, reckless, or irresponsible behaviour.

‘If you see or suspect someone of acting suspiciously, recklessly, or irresponsibly in the countryside contact the Police on 101.’

Thames Water has become the latest supplier to announce a hosepipe ban after one of the driest starts to the year on record.

The company is introducing restrictions across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Berkshire from next Tuesday.

Large parts of the UK are now officially in drought, including in Yorkshire where a hosepipe ban came into effect on Friday.

Under the new rules, residents are barred from using hosepipes to wash cars, water gardens or fill paddling pools. Anyone caught flouting them can face fines of up to £1,000.

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