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Wildfires and floods cost emergency services 11m

London, UKLocal News

London's emergency services have incurred over £11 million in costs from wildfires and flooding since 2018, highlighting the urgent need for climate resilience investment. The London Fire Brigade reported 808 wildfires, with expenses exceeding £5. 4 million. In 2025 alone, the brigade dealt with 21 wildfire incidents, deploying 4,022 personnel at a cost of £766,000. Flooding has increasingly affected the city as well, costing £5.

8 million, including £557,000 for 195 incidents this year. Leonie Cooper, Labour's environment spokesperson, stated that the impacts of climate change are evident in London today. Havering borough has experienced the most wildfires, with 158 incidents recorded since 2018. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne emphasized the importance of preventative measures and continued investment in resources. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, is participating in the C40 World Mayors Summit to discuss urban climate strategies.

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Met Police plea to only call 999 for genuine emergencies

Only 15% of 999 calls to the Metropolitan Police were genuine emergencies last year, prompting officials to urge the public to reserve the emergency number for life-threatening situations. The force noted that calls about spiders, non-returning dogs, and delivery issues consumed valuable call handler time. They recommend using 101 for non-emergency matters.