Update: latest photos and video from Dartford Heath to Wennington as fire breaks out either side of The Thames near London

Reports of a significant fire are emerging as flames threaten to halt traffic on the A2 in Kent.
By Dave Hammond
Published 19th Jul 2022, 14:56 BST
Updated 19th Jul 2022, 17:01 BST

Some homes are being told to evacuate immediately as emergency services seek to get the blaze under control.

London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to "a huge surge" in blazes across the capital amid the 40C heat.

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It comes as around one hundred firefighters tackled a huge blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, with television footage showing black smoke billowing into the air, with buildings and fields on fire.

Sadiq Khan said LFB is under "immense pressure" thanks to a number of fires across the city.

The London Mayor said on Twitter: "London Fire Brigade has just declared a Major Incident in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital today.

"This is critical: @LondonFire is under immense pressure.

"Please be safe. I'm in touch with the Commissioner and will share updates when I have them."

Firefighters attend a fire on Dartford Marshes in Kent. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Adrian Stirrup/PA WireFirefighters attend a fire on Dartford Marshes in Kent. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Adrian Stirrup/PA Wire
Firefighters attend a fire on Dartford Marshes in Kent. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Adrian Stirrup/PA Wire
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It came as temperatures in the city hit around 40C amid the heatwave blasting the nation.

LFB said 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to the scene in Wennington at just after 1pm.

At least one home appeared to be completely destroyed in the blaze, while smoke covered a wide area.

Nearby fields were seen to be scorched.

Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @chrispres55 showing a fire on the A2 in Dartford, Kent. Firefighters are currently tackling the blaze. Kent Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene of the fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Issue date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER HeatwaveDartford. Photo credit: Chris Preston/PA WireHandout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @chrispres55 showing a fire on the A2 in Dartford, Kent. Firefighters are currently tackling the blaze. Kent Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene of the fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Issue date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER HeatwaveDartford. Photo credit: Chris Preston/PA Wire
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @chrispres55 showing a fire on the A2 in Dartford, Kent. Firefighters are currently tackling the blaze. Kent Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene of the fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. Issue date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER HeatwaveDartford. Photo credit: Chris Preston/PA Wire

The fire brigade said on Twitter: "We've got 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters dealing with this blaze on The Green in #Wennington."

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It comes as Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at Heathrow Airport, the Met Office said.

The threshold was hit at 12.50pm as much of the UK sweltered in a heatwave, with parts of England and Wales under a red warning for extreme heat, posing a danger to life, pressure on the NHS and disruption across transport networks.

The extreme heat is fuelled by climate change, which is making every heatwave more intense, frequent and likely, scientists warn.

Emergency services at the scene in the village of Wennington, east London, where around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to "a huge surge" in blazes across the capital amid the 40C heat. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA WireEmergency services at the scene in the village of Wennington, east London, where around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to "a huge surge" in blazes across the capital amid the 40C heat. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Emergency services at the scene in the village of Wennington, east London, where around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to "a huge surge" in blazes across the capital amid the 40C heat. Picture date: Tuesday July 19, 2022. PA Photo. Temperatures have reached 40C for the first time on record in the UK, with 40.2C provisionally recorded at London Heathrow, the Met Office has said. See PA story WEATHER Heatwave. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The new high for daytime temperatures came after the UK experienced its warmest night on record on Monday, with temperatures remaining in the mid-20s.

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The 40.2C recorded at Heathrow beats the previous record for the UK of 38.7C in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.5C, and the Met Office warned temperatures were still climbing early on Tuesday afternoon.

Charlwood, Wisley and Chertsey in Surrey, and Kew Gardens and Northolt in west London were among the places to exceed the 2019 record by early afternoon, with temperatures climbing above 39C.

More will follow on the breaking incident...

Related topics:London Fire BrigadeMet OfficeKentLondon

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