Heathrow passengers witness huge Feltham fire in west London

About 70 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze about 3km from the airport

Dozens of firefighters tackled a blaze about three kilometres from Heathrow Airport on Sunday afternoon.

The fire could be clearly seen from planes coming in to land and involved trees, hedgerows, shrubs and decking at the rear of properties in Hereford Road in Feltham, west London.

The London Fire Brigade said 10 engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the blaze at 4.35pm.

About 60 residents were moved from their homes because of the amount of smoke.

“Firefighters have worked incredibly hard in hot, arduous conditions to stop the blaze spreading to nearby properties," said station commander Tamer Ozdemir.

“Their hard work has saved approximately 30 homes in Hereford Road.”

Fires break out in UK during heatwave - in pictures

A residential area after a large fire in Wennington, Greater London. Several fires broke out across England as the UK experienced a record-breaking heatwave. Getty Images

Residents look at buildings destroyed by fire in Wennington. Getty

Firefighters tackle a grass fire during the heatwave in Mow Cop, Staffordshire. Reuters

Firefighters in Maltby, after a fire started on scrubland before spreading to outbuildings, fences and homes in South Yorkshire. PA

The scene after a fire at Dartford Marshes. PA

Burnt woodland is seen as smoke rises from the trees following a fire in Blidworth. Getty Images

A car drives towards a fire in East London. Reuters

Burnt woodland in Dartford Heath, England, after a fire on Tuesday. Getty

Smoke columns rise from Dartford, Kent, where a fire erupted earlier in the day. AFP

Smoke rises from Wennington neighbourhood fires in England on Tuesday. Getty

Emergency services tackle a fire on Dartford Heath. Grass fires broke out around the country during an intense heatwave. Getty

People look on as a fire burns in East London. Reuters

A firefighter attends a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor, Cornwall. Reuters

Smoke pours from a blaze in the village of Wennington, east London. PA

Firefighters hose down a grass fire in Ravenswood in Suffolk. PA

Firefighters rest after attending a gorse bush fire near Zennor in Cornwall. Reuters

A large wildfire in woodland at Lickey Hills Country Park on the edge of Birmingham. AP

Smoke from the fire near Zennor, Cornwall. Reuters

Burnt woodland alongside a motorway near Dartford Heath. Getty

A firefighter has a drink of water after the major blaze on Dartford Heath. Getty

Multiple cylinders were removed due to a risk of explosion in the heat, the LFB said.

A drone team helped crews to identify further hot spots in the surrounding woodland.

The cause of the fire is not known.

“For around 40 minutes at least, it was just flames and a lot of thick dark smoke," said Avni Dudhia, 32.

“Our house is probably around 600 to 700 metres from the fire.

“It was definitely scary as you could see how quickly the fire was spreading across the trees to the right — so much smoke, too.”

Wildfires hit England as temperatures soar - video