Our community has been shocked this week by devastation caused by fires in Hornchurch, Upminster and in the nearby village of Wennington.

Throughout these distressing incidents I have been in communication with key stakeholders including the Fire Brigade, Council and the Police to offer any support that my team and I can provide. In Westminster, I have spoken directly to the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is in charge of civil contingencies, to check that the system of support is helping as it should for emergency workers and residents. The Home Secretary visited Wennington herself on Thursday.  

This sequence of tragic events commenced with the fire in a sheltered accommodation unit in Mavis Grove, Hornchurch, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Over 100 firefighters attended the incident and were supported by police officers to evacuate 41 residents. I have been advised by the Borough Fire Commander that a number of police officers displayed particular bravery in responding to this incident and that their actions directly saved lives. I have already expressed my thanks to those officers, the police BCU Commander and have offered my support in ensuring that their bravery is appropriately recognised.

I have also been in communication with the Council, regarding the support offered to tenants of the unit, who have been supported into alternative accommodation. I am aware that a very limited number of residents are receiving direct assistance from the Council’s social services team however I have offered my support to the Council if I can be helpful in anyway. I shall be establishing contact with the site operator to offer any support I can provide to them or their residents moving forward.

Our firefighters were called upon again later on Tuesday morning to respond to a grass fire in Pea Lane. Over 175 firefighters attended the scene to bring this significant blaze, covering an area of approximately three hectares, under control. While I have not received reports of damage to personal property caused by this fire, I shall be visiting and corresponding directly with residents and businesses in the area to again offer any support my office can provide. If any residents have been directly impacted by this, or another fire, you can find guidance on the London Fire Brigade’s website on the actions to take following a fire at the below address. Please do feel free to contact my office if you are experiencing any difficulty in accessing the services you need.
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/media/4893/after-we-leave-may-2019.pdf

Fire struck later in the village of Wennington where, unfortunately, the scenes of the worst devastation caused by fire can be found. While the village is not within my constituency, the village is within the borough of Havering and many constituents will have direct links to the community there. The Council has established a help hub for residents at the Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre where anyone displaced by the fire can access support. Information on this can be accessed at:
https://www.havering.gov.uk/news/article/1129/wennington_fire_council_opens_new_help_hub_for_residents

I have maintained communication with the local Fire Commander over this last week and am in the process of arranging a formal meeting next week. As with the police, all officers attending these tragic events had shown tremendous bravery in exceptionally challenging circumstances and I have offered my support to ensuring that this effort is recognised. I hope also to welcome a number officers and firefighters for a reception in Parliament.

I hope that the information in this update is helpful, please do contact my office if my team and I can be of any assistance.