Fire crews tackle blazes on both Saturday and Sunday, reports James Cracknell

*A grass fire at Rammey Marsh, Enfield Lock (credit London Fire Brigade)*

Two Enfield grass fires in as many days took hold at the end of a week of record-setting temperatures.

Although temperatures are now much lower compared with Tuesday’s peak of more than 40 degrees in London, a significant lack of rainfall in July has left grassland areas tinder dry and at severe risk of fast-spreading fires, as has been seen widely across England in recent days.

Dropped litter, particularly glass bottles, can sometimes cause a flames to spark and spread.

On Saturday at around 3pm four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a grass fire at Albany Park in Enfield Wash. An area of grass and shrubland around 1.5 hectares was destroyed in the blaze, which was under control by 4pm.

Then on Sunday, between 3pm and 6.30pm, ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a grass fire on Rammey Marsh in Enfield Lock, close to the River Lea.

Around six hectares of grass and shrubland was alight over an area covering around 20 hectares. The brigade’s 999 control officers took more than 20 calls to the blaze.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The [Rammey Marsh] fire produced smoke and ash which was blowing towards local properties and over the M25 between junctions 25 and 26.

“We asked residents to keep windows and doors closed while firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.

“We’re urging people to take extra care and help us prevent fires on open land this summer.

“Make sure rubbish, especially glass, is safely thrown away and cigarettes are always properly disposed of. Grass will be tinder dry after periods of hot weather, so please don’t have barbecues in parks and public spaces.”

The causes of the fires are under investigation.

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