"Incredible" firefighters in Rainham have been gifted refreshments by a group of grateful dog walkers after dealing with months of "horrendous" blazes.
Claire Howell, who lives a five-minute walk from Ingrebourne Hill, birthed the idea of pooling together money in order to show appreciation for her local fire service amidst the summer of fires experienced across Havering this year.
After mentioning the idea in a WhatsApp group for fellow dog walkers, Claire and other residents raised funds to buy snacks and drinks for the firefighters at Wennington Fire Station, which they delivered on Saturday (August 22).
“This year, with the fires, it’s been horrendous and a lot of us live very close to the park," Claire told the Recorder.
“As regular users of Ingrebourne Hill, we all felt very strongly that we wanted to thank the wonderful fire service in person.
“Over the past few months, they have been working tirelessly to protect our green spaces and local communities, often in incredibly challenging conditions.
“We’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact of the recent grass fires, and we wanted to show our appreciation for everything the firefighters have done to keep people, homes and our precious green spaces safe.
“They truly deserve our thanks and recognition for their dedication and hard work."
Claire has lived in Havering all her life but insists 2026 has been the worst year she can remember for fires.
“On a daily basis we’re hearing the fire engines charging up and down and seeing and smelling the smoke," she said.
“It’s been a real topic of conversation and it’s just black over there [Ingrebourne Hill] – so much damage – it’s soul destroying."
Claire's original thought was to gift the firefighters crates of beer but she soon found out from Wennington Fire Station that they were not allowed to gift alcohol.
They decided to buy soft drinks, cakes, crisps and other snacks instead.
A total of £120 was left over after buying the refreshments and this was donated to the Fire Fighters Charity, which supports fire service members during and after their service.
“That green area means a lot to us – we’re over there sometimes twice a day and it’s a beautiful bit of escapism," Claire added.
“You feel like, although you’re in London, you’re in the middle of the countryside and we want to protect it.
“The land would just be completely destroyed if the fire service wasn't coming out multiple times a day – they’re incredible.
“I can’t imagine the pressure that they’re under."
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