Dagenham fire: Watch scale of damage of grass blaze on hottest day on record

Two people were taken to hospital after a grass fire in Dagenham engulfed neighbouring buildings on the hottest day on record.

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling the blaze in Ballards Road, which broke out at 2.15pm on Tuesday.

The fire was under control by 10.40pm.

A range of semi-detached houses on Stratford Close were destroyed, while an area of parkland of around eight hectares and several other houses and vehicles were damaged.

Around 135 people were evacuated from surrounding properties.

It was one of a number of fires which broke out across the capital on the hottest day on record, as the London Fire Brigade declared a major incident.

Hundreds of other brave firefighters are also tackling nearby blazes in Wennington and Upminster.

Fire crews initially attended a large grass fire off Ballards Road, which quickly spread to other buildings.

The London Fire Brigade released footage showing the scale of damage the fire caused.

The video shows charred landscapes and several burnt out properties.

Borough Commander Paul McClenaghan, who was at the scene, "Crews initially attended a significant grass fire which involved multiple seats of fire and also affected a range of buildings and a workshop.

"As firefighters were tackling that blaze, the fire was creating additional hotspots of fire which affected sheds and further nearby properties.

"A number of properties were evacuated on both sides of the road.

"Our firefighters worked in incredibly hot, difficult conditions. There were cylinders involved in the fire which added to the challenge for crews."

Fire crews had to be scrambled from all across London, including Whitechapel, Leytonstone, Millwall and Clapham.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.