Residents affected by the wildfires in Stourbridge have been given a return-to-home plan as emergency services said the blaze is “under control”.
West Midlands Fire Service declared a major incident on Thursday as a wildfire spread across more than 500 acres and destroyed 19 homes in the market town. It was one of several blazes to ravage through the UK this week as temperatures soared and the hottest day of the year was recorded.
Residents invited to meeting
Locals affected by the Stourbridge fire have been invited to attend an address in the area and meet with emergency service officers who will outline “if further assessment needs to be made to let you into your property… or if you cannot currently return to your property”.
The fire service provided instructions to those who have been evacuated and said that alongside other agencies, it has worked “around the clock to bring the incident under control”.
On Friday evening, millions of people in England and Wales received an alert on their mobile devices warning them of a “very high risk of wildfires nationally”. It came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Britain as a “tinderbox” and a temporary ban on disposable barbecues was put in place.
Emergency services under pressure
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it has been “inundated” with 999 calls since the emergency alert and urged people to help “keep our lines available for those who need urgent assistance”. This message was echoed by South Wales Fire and Rescue service who said on Saturday evening it had already received 736 calls compared to an average of about 300, and urged people only to call 999 if there was a new emergency to report.
The region has been affected by wildfires leading to the deployment of about 200 military personnel – from the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, supported by the 22 Engineer Regiment – to provide support. According to the Ministry of Defence, its main task was to provide logistical support, such as water distribution, and help free firefighters and specialist responders to focus on frontline firefighting.
Community support and ongoing incidents
Deputy chief fire officer Adam Openshaw said he was “incredibly proud” of everyone involved in the response to the major incident, and thanked fire crews from across the UK who had come to assist them. He added: “We know this is a challenging and worrying time for many people. I would like to thank our communities for their continued support throughout this time. Please be assured that we remain committed to protecting our communities and keeping the people of South Wales safe.”
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were fighting a wildfire in the Rhandirmwyn area, near Llandovery, which it described as a “challenging and dynamic” major incident. The service said: “A helicopter is actively supporting firefighting operations by carrying out water drops on affected areas, helping crews suppress fire activity in challenging terrain and respond to areas of ongoing concern.”
The Prince of Wales shared a statement on Saturday thanking emergency services which have been “working tirelessly” to battle wildfires across the country. William said: “To the firefighters, emergency responders and volunteers battling wildfires across the UK, thank you. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have lost their homes, and with those working tirelessly to protect communities, homes and the countryside.”
The chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Phil Garrigan, said on Friday morning that the service is “under significant pressure”. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “We’ve had 11 major incidents declared across the UK – Stourbridge particularly, but (also) Sandwell, Pershore, Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve got incidents still raging in Hampshire, in South Wales. It’s been a particularly difficult, busy period for the fire and rescue service, where we’ve been under significant pressure.”
Weather outlook and precautionary measures
Temperatures are set to cool in the coming days and the Met Office said Sunday will be cloudier with rain in some places. Will Lang, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, said that while rain is on its way, there remains a question mark over how much would fall.
A Network Rail boss said that extra funding could be needed to help the railway cope with the impact of climate change. It comes after a Greater Anglia train derailed on Friday south of Wickford railway station in Essex, while an incident at Lewes on Thursday seriously injured two passengers. Martin Frobisher, group safety and engineering director at Network Rail, told BBC Radio 4’s Today that investigations into the incidents in Essex and East Sussex will be “looking at climate and all sorts of other issues”.
Eastbourne Airshow said it will not have fireworks at the event on Sunday following the alert issued by the Government. Eastbourne Borough Council lead member for tourism and place, Jenny Williams, said “We understand many of our residents and airshow visitors will be disappointed, however, this decision has been taken in the interests of public safety and in ensuring we do not place further pressures on emergency services at this already busy time.”
