Imperial College research shows VDP was the reason behind the London Fire Brigade's busiest day since WW2.
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Scientists at Imperial College have discovered the cause of London’s wildfires two years after 41 properties were destroyed across London.
As wildfires rampage across Europe, it is easy to forget that two years ago, wildfires also raged across London.
Exactly two years ago today, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) dealt with 2,600 calls as 41 properties in London were destroyed by fire.
Two years later, researchers think they know the answer to why.
Fire scientist at Imperial College, Professor Guillermo Rein said he and researcher Jamie John, have been conducting a study into heat and fire waves in the capital. They’re worried about the unusually high number of fires in London.
The team analysed 13 years’ worth of data from the London Fire Brigade and the Met Office and concluded that vapour pressure deficit, or VPD, was the leading cause of London’s wildfires.
What is VPD?
VPD is a measure of the atmosphere’s ability to extract moisture from the land surface – in short, it is the process which dries the vegetation into fuel.
VPD was found to be the most direct cause of wildfires in an urban environment.
The report identified five London fire waves between 2009 and 2022 – one in 2018 and four in 2022.
The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, described itself as a first attempt to quantify the links between heatwaves and wildfires in a city.
Pete Apps, a reporter for the Emergency Service Times who covered the fires, told City News why London was particularly affected: “London sits in a dangerous twilight zone for wildfire. Because it has not historically been hot enough for wildfires to be a particularly prevalent risk, it is not very well adapted to it.”
What the report can do to help
According to Professor Rein: “We see the potential for it to be used as part of an early-warning framework for wildfires in London.
“If forecasts show that the VPD metric is met or likely to be exceeded, fire brigades can be put on higher alert, allowing for a degree of preparation that would otherwise not be possible.”
HeadlineLondon wildfires ‘a dangerous twilight zone’ as scientists discover cause
Short HeadlineCause of 2022 London wildfires discovered
StandfirstScientists at Imperial College have discovered the cause of London's 2022 wildfires after 41 properties were destroyed.
Scientists at Imperial College have discovered the cause of London’s wildfires two years after 41 properties were destroyed across London.
As wildfires rampage across Europe, it is easy to forget that two years ago, wildfires also raged across London.
Exactly two years ago today, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) dealt with 2,600 calls as 41 properties in London were destroyed by fire.
Two years later, researchers think they know the answer to why.
Fire scientist at Imperial College, Professor Guillermo Rein said he and researcher Jamie John, have been conducting a study into heat and fire waves in the capital. They’re worried about the unusually high number of fires in London.
The team analysed 13 years’ worth of data from the London Fire Brigade and the Met Office and concluded that vapour pressure deficit, or VPD, was the leading cause of London’s wildfires.
What is VPD?
VPD is a measure of the atmosphere’s ability to extract moisture from the land surface – in short, it is the process which dries the vegetation into fuel.
VPD was found to be the most direct cause of wildfires in an urban environment.
The report identified five London fire waves between 2009 and 2022 – one in 2018 and four in 2022.
The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, described itself as a first attempt to quantify the links between heatwaves and wildfires in a city.
Pete Apps, a reporter for the Emergency Service Times who covered the fires, told City News why London was particularly affected: “London sits in a dangerous twilight zone for wildfire. Because it has not historically been hot enough for wildfires to be a particularly prevalent risk, it is not very well adapted to it.”
What the report can do to help
According to Professor Rein: “We see the potential for it to be used as part of an early-warning framework for wildfires in London.
“If forecasts show that the VPD metric is met or likely to be exceeded, fire brigades can be put on higher alert, allowing for a degree of preparation that would otherwise not be possible.”
