Tuesday’s several fires and record-breaking temperatures made for the busiest day for the London fire department since World War Two, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan.
One of 15 regions in the UK to declare a significant event was the capital.
The flames began on a day when Coningsby, Lincolnshire, set a record high temperature of 40.3C (104.5F).
Most people have reported feeling cooler on Wednesday, but thunderstorms are expected in central England.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain that might cause problems across eastern and south-east England on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Even when the temperature is dropping, the weather still has an impact on transportation. Since there are no direct trains running from London to Scotland, Network Rail has recommended customers to only travel when absolutely necessary.
Mr Khan claimed that while responding to numerous fires, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) received 2,600 calls. He previously told Sky News that on Tuesday, 41 houses were destroyed in London.
100 firemen battled a fire that damaged numerous properties in Wennington, east London.
According to LFB, the fire destroyed two rows of terraced residences, four more homes, 12 stables, and five cars. A firefighter on the site called the situation “total hell.”
Dramatic photos from the site showed smoke rising from buildings, some of which had their roofs caved in, and severe property damage in the area.
“On a busy day, we may receive up to 500 calls per day, up from the usual 350 calls per day. Over 2,600 calls per day were received by the fire service yesterday.”
For fear of setting the grass on fire, the mayor has recommended Londoners against barbecuing in parks or private gardens.
Jonathan Smith, the assistant commissioner for the LFB, reported that the brigade battled many grassland and wildfires in addition to 15 major fires.
To gain a complete picture of the causes, the service will look into each one, he said.
The speed at which fires spread across grassland and woods was a particular concern, he said, as the heat and dryness provided “the perfect setting.”
Other places included Norfolk, where a number of properties were completely destroyed by fire, and Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, among others, where serious incidents were proclaimed.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson congratulated the firefighters and mentioned that he had spoken with the NFCCC chair.
16 firemen, according to LFB, suffered heat-related injuries; two were transported to the hospital but were later released. According to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, four crew members were transported to the hospital, but they all fully recovered.
Because of this, he stated, “we are considering this heatwave as a rigorous test of our country’s resilience and contingency preparedness.”
