A Birmingham TikToker has described jumping over a garden fence to help people whose houses were burning in a devastating fire that destroyed six homes on Gorleston Road. The blaze, which broke out on Thursday, also demolished fences and gardens across a run of 10 properties.
Fire spread from Daisy Farm Park
Fire commander Peter Simmons confirmed the fire started at Daisy Farm Park, behind the properties, before spreading. The incident was initially treated as suspected arson, with an investigation handed to West Midlands Police.
In the aftermath, one man watched helplessly as his childhood home of 30 years went up in smoke. The community has been left reeling.
TikToker's actions
Known on TikTok as Ringz N Tingz, he was walking to the shops when he spotted 'unusual, thick smoke' and followed it to a small field, where he saw 'everything on fire'. He began livestreaming but soon realised he needed to get 'actively involved'.
He told the Press Association: 'As the fire was spreading, I just ran just before the fire (reached me), jumped over this fence to go check if people's all right.'
He and another man attempted to extinguish the fire but it was 'just too big'. They then sprinted to a nearby care home, which was being evacuated, to find fire extinguishers. Some elderly residents were in beds or wheelchairs, and others were attached to medical equipment.
He said: 'If the fire would have carried on spreading, the bushes would have went up, the trees would have went up, and then eventually that care home would have went up as well.'
Fundraising response
In a social media post, he defended his livestreaming, saying he used his platform to alert people and mobilise help. Within 24 hours, over £5,567 was raised for those affected. Some 4,000-5,000 people tuned in, and the GoFundMe hit £11,000 in the first day. GoFundMe estimates more than £110,000 has been raised by various fire appeals in total.
West Midlands emergency services received 'thousands' of 999 calls amid the fires, also in Stourbridge this week, with 'extensive' damage left in their wake. Further fires broke out in Stoke-on-Trent. On Friday night, the government issued a nationwide alert warning of wildfire risk amid the fifth heatwave this year, with Andy Burnham urging people not to light anything that could spark a fire.
