As many as 63 homes were gutted across the UK yesterday, with 41 in London alone - including 19 homes in the village of Wennington, and 14 homes and 25 vehicles in a blaze in Dagenham.
Britain is experiencing its hottest day in history today - with temperatures soaring past 40C (104F) - so why are we seeing such ferocious heat and is climate change to blame?
Part of the reason behind the hot weather is that a pressure system called the Azores High, which usually sits off Spain , has grown larger and is being pushed northwards, meteorologists say.
It could culminate in the UK s hottest day in history on Monday, with the country put on a national emergency footing amid fears even healthy people could die.