Huge fires have threatened to tear through homes in the West Midlands after dramatic footage circulating online showed enormous flames coming from buildings and a golf course.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was facing “extreme levels of demand” due to a fire in Stourbridge on Thursday. The “extensive grass fire” follows scorching temperatures across the region and other parts of the UK.
Firefighters at scene
Around 60 firefighters attended the scene near Stourbridge golf course after being alerted to the blaze at around 1.30pm. No casualties have been reported.
Footage circulating on social media showed multiple buildings on fire and huge plumes of smoke coming from a nearby field. The fire service said flames were spreading “across roads in places”, with people urged to stay indoors.
Rescue centre set up
Drone footage published by the force showed a heat map of flames threatening to engulf homes in the area as smoke billowed across the town. Stourbridge town hall has been set up as a rescue centre for people who have had to flee their homes.
In a post on social media, the fire service said: “We are currently facing extreme levels of demand as a service, and need your immediate help. Wherever you are in the West Midlands, please do whatever you can to stay safe and minimise the risk of outdoor fires. If you are directly affected by an ongoing fire, please do not risk tackling it yourself. Get to a safe place and call 999. We will do our very best to get help to you as soon as we can. If you must drive, take extra care if you are driving, avoid areas of dense smoke, and please don’t head to areas where fires are taking place to watch.”
Second fire declared major incident
Meanwhile, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said they are responding to a “large fire” in Salford Priors, Stratford-Upon-Avon. It urged residents in the area to close all doors and windows. Police, fire crews and ambulances are at the scene of the wildfire which has been declared a major incident.
