Pictures show the devastation after huge heatwave fires in London, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire destroy homes

Firefighters in London experienced their “busiest day since the Second World War” on Tuesday as extreme temperatures coupled with tinder-dry conditions led to fires breaking out. The heatwave caused major incidents in London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire, with dozens of homes being destroyed.

The UK experienced its hottest day on record yesterday (July 19), with a high of 40.3C reported in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, as the country endured searing temperatures. More than 2,600 calls were made to the London Fire Brigade (LFB) throughout the day - seven times more calls than usual.

In Upminster and the village of Wennington, east London, two “large scale” incidents were declared as fires burned through buildings and surrounding fields. Sixteen firefighters were injured while tackling the blazes while two were admitted to hospital but were later discharged, LFB assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith told Times Radio.

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Speaking to Sky News, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Yesterday was the busiest day for the fire service in London since the Second World War.

“Yesterday they received more than 2,600 calls – more than a dozen simultaneous fires requiring 30 engines, a couple requiring 15, and some requiring 12. I’m afraid the bad news is, 41 properties were destroyed in London.”

Simon Clarke, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News that the fires were a “warning sign” about the impact of climate change.

He said: “This is a remarkable, unprecedented event and something which obviously, because people have been saying, we are not used to seeing in this country. What we’ve seen in recent days is not