A Dudley councillor who joined firefighters in battling a major wildfire in Stourbridge has described his shock and disbelief at the scale of the destruction. The blaze, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, tore through a large area of woodland near the town, prompting a major response from West Midlands Fire Service.
Councillor's first-hand account
Councillor Mike Harley, who represents the Stourbridge area on Dudley Council, was among those who helped fight the fire. He told BirminghamWorld: "It was absolutely terrifying. I've never seen anything like it in all my life. The flames were leaping from tree to tree, and the smoke was choking. It was like a scene from a disaster movie."
Harley, who lives nearby, rushed to the scene after hearing reports of the fire. He helped firefighters by directing them to the worst-affected areas and providing water from his own supplies. "I just wanted to do whatever I could to help," he said. "The firefighters were amazing, but they were stretched to the limit. Every little bit helped."
Scale of the wildfire
The fire is believed to have started near the Stourbridge Golf Club and quickly spread, fanned by strong winds and dry conditions. At its peak, more than 40 firefighters and eight fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze, along with specialist units and a helicopter. The fire destroyed an estimated 20 acres of woodland and grassland, and took several hours to bring under control.
West Midlands Fire Service said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but early indications suggest it may have been started deliberately. A spokesperson said: "We are treating this fire as suspicious and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward."
Community response and impact
The local community has rallied together in the aftermath of the fire, with residents offering food and drinks to firefighters and volunteers helping to assess the damage. Councillor Harley praised the community spirit: "It's been heartwarming to see how people have come together. The fire has brought out the best in people, even in the face of such devastation."
The fire has also raised concerns about the risk of future wildfires in the area, especially during the summer months. Dudley Council has said it will be reviewing its emergency plans and working with the fire service to improve prevention measures. The council is also urging residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Councillor Harley said he hopes the fire will serve as a wake-up call: "We need to take these threats seriously. Climate change is making these events more likely, and we need to be prepared. I'm just grateful that no one was seriously hurt, but we must learn from this experience."
The fire was eventually extinguished at around 10pm on Wednesday, and firefighters remained on the scene overnight to damp down hotspots. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but early estimates suggest it could take years for the woodland to recover.
