The annual Wimbledon tennis championships approach their climax this week, the world’s only Grand Slam tournament played on grass.
But it was “grass” of a different kind in Wimbledon that kept a large team of firefighters busy last night, when four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a house being used as a suspected cannabis factory on Bakers End in Wimbledon.
The roof of the two-storey property was destroyed by fire. “There are no reports of any injuries,” according to the London Fire Brigade.
The fire is believed to be caused by unsafe electrical installation in the cannabis factory.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Cannabis factory fires can be particularly dangerous because of the way criminals use unsafe wiring to illegally obtain electricity in order to grow the plants.
“They’re often in top floors or lofts which means when a fire takes hold it spreads, destroying roofs and damaging neighbouring buildings.
“Firefighters can also be exposed to risks when dealing with the fires because of bad wiring and traps at some of the properties.
“It’s important that people know the key signs and inform the police so that they can act swiftly to prevent these dangerous fires from happening.”
The Brigade was called at 5.26pm and the fire was under control by 7pm.
Crews from Wimbledon, New Malden and Mitcham fire stations attended the scene.
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
