A massive grassfire broke out next to a busy park in south London as locals are issued an urgent warning.
Emergency services were called to the scene between Mitcham Common and Beddington landfill around 5.25pm earlier this afternoon.
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Some 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines were deployed to tackle the roaring blaze engulfing the area.
The London Fire Brigade said roughly four hectares of scrubland had been destroyed after flames tore through dry grassland, with smoke plumes seen as far away as Croydon.
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Shocked eyewitnesses reported “showering ash” falling near the roadside as the LFB told residents to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.
Police closed off surrounding roads to allow emergency vehicles to be able to reach the scene and control the fire.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown, while no injuries have been reported so far. Crews used a 32-metre turntable ladder to fight the fire from above.
However, garages on Carshalton Road were affected, including a workshop and a scaffolding yard.
Road closures on London Road and Carshalton Road remain in place, and the public has been urged to stay away.
The brigade’s control room received more than 70 calls about the fire.
A spokesperson for the brigade said: “The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke, so local residents should keep their windows and doors closed.”
No injuries have been reported and the cause of the blaze has not yet been established.
Rail services were also disrupted, with the line between Mitcham Junction and Sutton shut after a nearby property caught fire.
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Power to the tracks was cut off while crews worked to bring the blaze under control.
Southern trains running between London Victoria and Dorking or Horsham via Sutton were rerouted through West Croydon, adding 20 minutes to journeys.
Thameslink services added extra stops at Coulsdon South, Merstham and Three Bridges to compensate for cancelled trains at those stations.
Passengers on Great Northern, Thameslink and Southern routes were warned of possible last-minute alterations to timetables.
Disruption was expected to last until at least 10pm.
This was the second grassfire in Mitcham this week, following a smaller blaze on Monday evening.
Around 25 firefighters from Mitcham, Norbury, Wallington and Croydon tackled that fire after the alarm was raised at 8.15pm.
Roughly half a hectare of land was damaged before the flames were put out by 9.39pm.
Separately, a large fire broke out near a caravan park in Scotland yesterday afternoon.
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