Fire crews across the West Midlands have been battling 11 separate blazes on August 14, what has been named the hottest day of the year so far. At least 10 people have been injured, including a child and firefighters, with major incidents declared in Stourbridge and Salford Priors.
Stourbridge blaze declared major incident
The largest fire is centred around Norton Road in Stourbridge, where firefighters continue to battle a huge blaze that has been declared a major incident. Dramatic photos show the devastation, with burnt-out remains of houses in the Quarry Park Road area. Emergency services are advising residents nearby to keep windows and doors firmly closed to avoid smoke inhalation, and people are being asked to avoid the areas where possible to allow emergency vehicles clear access.
Castle Vale bungalows engulfed
A huge blaze broke out in Castle Vale, engulfing two bungalows on Tangmere Drive and sending black smoke billowing into the sky. Two people were injured. Fire service investigators are now on scene to establish how the blaze started. Fire Station Commander Adam Dean discussed the incident with other firefighters outside the properties.
Other fires across the region
A fire 'double the size' of a two-storey house ripped through at least six gardens in Price Avenue in Tamworth. West Midlands Fire Service was also called to The Dell in Druids Heath, Hillmeads Road in Kings Norton, Daisy Farm Park in Highters Heath, and Lyndon Playing Fields in Solihull.
Residents were asked to leave homes in several roads in Oldbury following a fire at the former Brandhall Golf Course. Further afield, there was a fire on Stonehouse Avenue in Willenhall, homes evacuated in Pershore, Worcestershire, and Salford Priors in Warwickshire, which has also been declared a major incident.
Emergency services are advising residents living nearby to keep their windows and doors firmly closed to avoid smoke inhalation. People are also being asked to avoid the areas where possible to allow emergency vehicles clear access to the scenes.
