Huge plumes of smoke as three seperate wildfires rage in east London

Around 250 firefighters tackled three huge wildfires in hellish conditions on a night when huge swathes of east London burned.

Three separate investigations are being launched into the blazes in Dagenham, Hornchurch and Walthamstow.

A huge tower of smoke could be seen as 125 firefighters tried to stop a raging wildfire from engulfing Beam Valley Country Park in Dagenham at 6.30pm.

Footage from the scene shows a mother carrying her child as she runs through thick smoke in her east London close. PCSOs are seen running past her before frantically banging on doors to alert residents to evacuate.

Other east Londoners are seen approaching the raging inferno armed only with garden hoses.

Locals were evacuated from their terraced homes as fire engines tried to douse the out-of-control grass fire that destroyed eight hectares of trees, fences and garden furniture.

An LFB spokesman advised locals to keep their windows closed as toxic fumes blocked out the sun.

The cause of the fire is yet not known. Firefighters tackled the flames for more than three hours, preventing the inferno from reaching family homes.

Firefighter Craig Fenner said: ‘Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties.

‘The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture. As well as our jets, we used wildfire beaters to beat the flames and stop them from reaching the properties.’

As Dagenham burned, another wildfire broke out consuming six hectares of grassland behind homes in Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch.

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

Residents were instructed to keep their doors and windows shut as the brigade arrived at 8.10pm.

The stretched fire service mobilised crews from as far away as Soho to prevent more damage to nearby properties.

Then another wildfire broke out in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow Marshes with crews from Brixton, south London, arriving to help colleagues.

More than 60 firefighters rushed to the popular nature reserve close to a reservoir.

A spokesman said three hectares of grassland were still alight at 11pm. He added: ‘Firefighters are making steady progress, but will remain at the scene for the next few hours.’

Local MP Stella Creasy posted on X: ‘Walthamstow this is heartbreaking. ‘Please avoid the scene and follow the fire brigade for updates.’

While crews were tackling the marshland fire, one man had to taken to hospital after a fire on the tenth floor of a tower in nearby Wood Street.

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