It is clear the unprecedented temperatures and long spells without rain have made open space spaces across the country worry about the risks of wildfires. In Epping Forest, we believe between the 26th June and 11th August 2022 (54 days), we have been subjected to a total of 76 wildfires. The demand on staff, volunteers and on the incredible London Fire Brigade and Essex Fire and Rescue Service has been overwhelming.
In accordance with the byelaws of Epping Forest, any kind of flame or match is strictly forbidden. However, the message doesn’t appear to be reaching those who have continued to light bonfires, disposable BBQs, let off fireworks, release memorial lanterns, or deliberately try to cause damage through arson. It is a simple truth that despite our charity’s best efforts, our teams cannot be everywhere in Epping Forest to manage inappropriate behaviour, so we need the eyes and ears of everyone who holds the forest dear to help protect it.
In recent weeks, I have personally done interviews with the BBCs, national news outlets, press and extensive social media campaigns. In addition, the Mayor of London has joined the Fire Brigade in Epping Forest to thank them for their extraordinary efforts and to urge the public not to light any kind of fire in or around Epping Forest.
BBC Essex – Sonia Watson, 11/08/2022, Disposable BBQs are still being used despite fire warnings.
Increased risk of wildfires in Epping Forest during heatwave | This Is Local London
Leytonstone: Firefighters rush to latest blaze in northeast London (msn.com)
Sadiq Khan: London wildfire risk will continue for some time | LondonWorld
Epping Forest is home to more than 1 million trees, 55,000 of those are ancient tress – the largest collection in the United Kingdom. It is designated as a Special Site of Scientific Interest and as Special Area of Conservation in the Habitats Directive. To lose even part of the forest would be catastrophic for not just London, but for Western Europe.
If you see a fire or barbecue in the Forest please call 020 8532 1010, which is a phoneline answered 24/7. If you see any fire which requires immediate attention please of course call 999 first.
In addition to education through media, I have been asking the government to speed up the evidence gathering exercise they are conducting to look at the links between unregulated disposable BBQs and wildfires in the UK. In a recent letter to the DEFRA Minister, I wrote:
The Hon. Victoria Prentis MP, Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dear Mrs. Prentis,
I am contacting you in my role as Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee. As a corporate landowner, the City of London owns and manages numerous major open spaces for public benefit in London, Essex, Surrey and Buckinghamshire. Epping Forest, West Wickham and Coulsdon Commons, Burnham Beeches and Ashtead Common fall within the responsibility of the Committee I chair.
This summer’s unprecedented hot weather has further highlighted the need to prevent fires in open spaces to protect ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife, as well as visitors and adjacent residents. Following nine significant fires in Epping Forest and another at Happy Valley (Wycombe, Bucks) on the Commons under the City’s custodianship, I asked fire teams and officers for feedback on the root causes of these fires. Whilst definitively establishing the cause of fires is often difficult, it is clear that disposable barbecues are presenting a significant risk in Epping Forest and on the Commons. To quantify this issue, despite having byelaws in place banning disposable barbecues, clear signage, a significant social media campaign and staff and volunteer patrols, more than 100 people were stopped using disposable barbecues in Epping Forest during a single weekend in July this year. I know that concerns about disposable barbecues are shared by the London Fire Brigade, with the London’s Fire Commissioner recently calling for a total ban. Action by a number of major retailers to stop selling such barbecues likewise reflects recognition of the hazards they may cause.
I note your comments on the 30 March 2022 Westminster Hall debate that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is “commissioning research to examine the role that barbecues—and specifically disposable barbecues—play in wildfire incidents.” Such acknowledgement of concern is welcome, but the need to address the issue has become pressing and warrants early action commensurate with the hazard which the inappropriate use of the equipment is now presenting.
If officials would like to have further information about recent incidents of wildfires in the open spaces for which the City is responsible, please let me know and will arrange for it to be collated.
Yours sincerely,
Benjamin Murphy CC, Chairman, Epping Forest & Commons Committee, City of London Corporation
Cc: Rt. Hon. Dame Eleanor Laing MP – Epping Forest
Rt. Hon. Sir Iain Duncan-Smith MP – Chingford and Woodford Green
Stella Creasy MP – Walthamstow
John Cryer MP – Leyton and Wanstead
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP – Slough
Joy Morrissey MP – Beaconsfield