Blazes at Rammey Marsh in Enfield Lock and on open space at Enfield Island Village were sparked within hours of each other

Two separate grass fires either side of the River Lea were tackled in Enfield on a sizzling Bank Holiday Monday.

At Rammey Marsh in Enfield Lock, which frequently catches fire during heatwaves, four fire engines and 25 firefighters attended a blaze affecting around one hectare of grassland and shrubbery.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called at 10.29am and control officers mobilised crews from Enfield, Chingford and Edmonton fire stations to the scene. A wildfire response vehicle from Enfield Fire Station also attended.

The Rammey Marsh fire was extinguished by 12.08pm, but just three hours later fire crews returned to the area to tackle a blaze that had caught hold in nearby Enfield Island Village.

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters attended the fire affecting around three hectares of grassland near George Lovell Drive. LFB was called at 3.11pm control officers mobilised crews from Enfield, Edmonton and Stoke Newington fire stations to the scene. A wildfire response vehicle from Walthamstow Fire Station also attended.

The second fire was brought under control by 4.22pm.

Due to the remote location of both fires, water relay systems were required as part of firefighting operations. Appliances were stationed between the incident sites and the nearest water hydrant, and then connected together by hose. This is allowing crews to pump a constant supply of water to the scene of the fire.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Grass fires are commonly caused by human behaviour, whether that be accidental or deliberate. Whilst it can be difficult to determine the causes of these types of fires, the use of disposable barbecues and careless discarding of cigarettes are regularly the cause of outdoor fires. It is also important to place your rubbish with you, if a suitable bin isn’t available as it can ignite and quickly start a fire.

“While some wildfires can occur naturally, particularly during spells of extreme dryness and heat, the majority of these fires can be easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly.

“What might seem like harmless fun has the potential to have devastating consequences especially in London when so many of our green spaces lie close to properties. There is also the impact on wildlife and the ability for others to enjoy their local green spaces. These types of incidents can also have a impact on our resources and wildfires can be challenging for firefighters to deal with on the ground, especially if it is hot.”

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