What are the London Fire Brigade (LFB)’s expectations and plans for this summer regarding the key risks of wildfires and flooding?
On 19 July 2022, the Brigade declared a major incident after it said it had received the largest number of emergency calls since World War II [1]. Record temperatures led to hundreds of fires across London.
A review of this major incident identified that a lack of crew and appliances on the day hindered its response [2].
In July 2021, London was hit by two serious flash floods, just two weeks apart. Parts of the city received a month's worth of rain in one day and residents had to be evacuated, with homes and businesses flooded [3].
Climate change is expected to bring more incidents of extreme weather. What has LFB learned from the wildfires last summer and the July 2021 floods to better prepare for future incidents? How is working with partner organisations like Thames Water to better protect Londoners?
The London Assembly Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss how the Brigade is adapting to and mitigating for climate change.
The guests are:
- Jonathan Smith, Deputy Commissioner, LFB
- Paul McCourt, Assistant Commissioner, Operational Policy and Assurance, LFB
- Mostaque Ahmed, Director for Corporate Services, LFB
- Alex Nickson, Water Resources & Growth Lead, Thames Water
- Simon Moore, Head of Planning, Thames Water
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 18 July 2023 from 10am, in The Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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