Brigade answers 400 calls as thunderstorm hits south London

Croydon’s tram network was closed between Addiscombe and Beckenham Junction for several hours this morning, as flooding blocked the lines following severe and intense thunderstorms just after dawn.

The River Wandle was close to breaking its banks near Beddington, and the London Fire Brigade responded to around 400 call-outs in connection with the thunderstorms – due both to flooding or lightning strikes.

One house, at Wilde Place in Tooting, struck by lightning, caught fire.

Some areas, including roads, were hit by flash flooding.

The LFB says: “Drivers are asked not to drive through floodwater… A foot of moving water at just 6mph is enough to float a car. Always try to find an alternative route and make sure to check your journey before travelling.”

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “It has been a very busy night for our Control Officers, firefighters and officers.

“Shortly after 4am, due to a large number of calls received by the Brigade, we implemented our High-Volume Call procedure which means flooding calls where there is a risk to life are prioritised and crews then attend other calls as non-emergencies when they can.”

Operation Willow Beck was also brought into effect.

Introduced in 2022 nationally by the Home Office and National Chiefs Fire Council, this is a pre-determined 999 call distribution procedure, which during times of extreme demand, can divert surplus emergency calls to unaffected fire and rescue service control rooms.

“I’d like to thank all of those colleagues in other fire rescue services who assisted us overnight, as well as our own staff for their hard work and professionalism during this busy period,” Goulbourne said.

“While the worst of the rain now seems to have passed, we continue to work through outstanding calls as well as receive new incidents as Londoners wake to see some of the damage caused by the storms overnight.

“We’d like to reassure Londoners that crews are available to respond to emergencies, so please call 999 if you have to.”

Fire rescue units are equipped with water rescue equipment such as inflatable rescue boats and the Brigade has specialist flood response kits, each containing rigid flood rescue boats and paddles and rigid floating pontoons, and flood barriers. They also contain protective dry suits and boots to be worn by fire crews when rescuing people from flooded areas.

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