The UK has recorded the highest temperature ever measured in the country at 40.2 degrees at London Heathrow Airport on Tuesday.

Now London's rescue service is working full time to put out a dozen fires that have occurred in connection with the hottest day ever.

- I saw black smoke and helicopters as well as police who came to our residential area, and the fire spread really fast, says Lynn Sabberton, who was evacuated from her home outside London, to Sky News.

The London Rescue Service issued a "major incident" on Tuesday, which means that the fires pose a societal danger that affects the rescue service's work and priorities.

Among other things, they will not go out on automatic fire alarms due to resources.

"Take no risks"

In a suburb east of London, several houses have been destroyed and damaged by the fires.

Do not grill on the grass or on the balcony, do not leave broken flakes or glasses on grass (it may start to burn), smoke cigarettes safely, and report fires as soon as you see them.

Take no risks ", writes London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Twitter.

A residential building burning in Eltham outside London.

The city's fire brigade calls the situation after the extreme heat critical.

Photo: London Fire Brigade Twitter

Red warning issued

Fires have also occurred in other parts of the country due to the heat.

In Leicestershire, for example, local authorities have also said they will not go out for automatic fire alarms.

A red warning for extreme heat - with danger to human life - has been issued in an area stretching between London, Manchester and York.

The authorities advise against train travel in the red-classified areas and several routes are run at a lower speed and some departures have been canceled due to the risk that the heat will cause sun curves on the rails.

"Like an oven"

Germany, the Benelux countries and France have also had very high temperatures, and just like in the UK, this has led to a major impact on infrastructure.

SVT's foreign reporter Andreas Öbrink is in Paris, which during the day had temperatures of over 40 degrees.

- Sometimes it's like walking around in a big oven and baking yourself, says Öbrink.

- It is a big impact, not least because of the fires that have caused tens of thousands of people to be evacuated, he says about the situation in the country.