London Fire Brigade firefighters attended more than 2,000 incidents across the capital over the Bank Holiday weekend as soaring temperatures triggered a sharp rise in fires and emergency calls, including a fire at maisonettes in Ealing’s Gurnell Grove.
Between 7am on Friday 22 May and 7am on Tuesday 26 May, the Brigade attended 2,093 incidents and control officers handled 3,644 calls — up around 40% compared with the same period last year.
Among the incidents in Ealing was a fire at split-level maisonettes in Gurnell Grove at 7.54am on Bank Holiday Monday (25 May 2026).
The Brigade said half of one maisonette was damaged by fire and one person was taken to hospital. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Across London, crews tackled at least 70 outdoor fires involving grass, trees, fencing and barbecues during the hot and dry conditions.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said:: “The Bank Holiday weekend was a very busy period for us and I’d like to thank all of our firefighters, officers and Control room staff who worked diligently and professionally to respond to these incidents and help people in need.
“There is no doubt the heatwave contributed to a rise in calls and incidents that we would normally expect, such as calls around people in trouble in water and the volume of outdoor fires.”
Mr McCourt warned that some smaller outdoor fires are believed to have been started deliberately, including by young people, and urged parents and carers to speak to children during the half-term break.
He added that the risk of wildfire in London remains heightened because of the continuing hot and dry weather.
The Brigade also warned Londoners about the dangers of swimming in open water, saying rivers, lakes and reservoirs can remain dangerously cold even during heatwaves.
Firefighters urged people only to swim in designated areas with lifeguards present and to call 999 if they see somebody in difficulty in the water.
