UK Heatwave: Large Wildfire Breaks Out Along Highway in Dartford; Major Incident Declared

A significant fire is consuming right close to the A2 carriageway on the edges of London, with startling video showing vehicles passing through the smoke.

The street is in Dartford, a town south east of the capital as the city turns into the province of Kent.

It comes during a heatwave on the most sultry day at any point kept in the UK, with temperatures climbing above 40°C at various spots including Heathrow, St James’ Park and Kew Gardens.

A column of houses were obliterated in Dartford this midday after a grass fire spread to neighborhoods.

Awful pictures show thick dark smoke surging out of sight, with structures and fields ablaze in Wennington, near the Dartford Crossing.

London Fire Brigade has proclaimed a significant occurrence because of the sheer size of the flames breaking out across the city today.

With respect to fire by the A2, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said they were at the location of a fire on Dartford Heath.

‘Twelve fire motors are at the scene, and teams are utilizing hose reel planes and primary planes to handle the blast, including areas of undergrowth and trees,’ they said.

A grass fire spread to a column of homes in Dartford this evening
‘No losses have been accounted for. Individuals driving on the A2 and other close by streets are being encouraged to take additional consideration, because of smoke floating opposite the episode.

India Boyle, 24, who lives close by, said: ‘You could experience its intensity and the entire heath was becoming immersed on fire, edging right out to the hard shoulder of the A2.

‘Firemen came nearby and coordinated the traffic and ultimately to some extent shut it.

‘The fire was spreading actually rapidly and it came straight up to the start of the scaffold.

‘It’s some place I ordinarily stroll towards the nearby town and heaps of individuals walk their canines there, exceptionally up close and personal.

‘It’s a stressing time as these flames can spread so wide in the event that not returned to normal.

‘I’m so thankful to those firemen, particularly in this intensity. I accept they are as yet attempting to return it to normal.’

Somewhere else, unpleasant pictures show thick dark smoke surging out of sight, with structures and fields ablaze in Wennington, near the Dartford Crossing.