A Solihull councillor has pleaded with residents not to "be an idiot" and risk further fires after a grass fire in Lyndon came close to burning down homes. The fire, which broke out on the afternoon of August 13, spread to the rear gardens of properties in Wichnor Road before 10 firefighters managed to contain it.
Firefighters Prevented Worse Outcome
Lyndon ward councillor Ade Adeyemo expressed relief that West Midlands Fire Service acted quickly. "We really must emphasise our thanks to West Midlands Fire Service because if they hadn't got here quickly and dealt with it properly those houses would be gone," he said.
Around 20 properties were affected by the grass fire, which burnt sheds, fences and garages. The councillor shared video footage showing the burnt remains of gardens and scorched grass at Lyndon playing fields.
Concerns Over Fireworks and Barbecues
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but there has been speculation about potential causes, including fireworks. Councillor Adeyemo noted a recent spate of fireworks going off day and night in the area.
"I understand people have events and things they want to celebrate but fireworks are a nuisance," he said. "People need to be sensible, also don't go out to a park that is tinder dry and have a barbeque. Don't be an idiot."
He added that the fire service was stretched, dealing with "unprecedented wild fires across the region". The councillor emphasised the need to prevent further fires: "At the moment we need to make sure we don't have anymore of these fires going on."
Fire Service Response and National Ban
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service detailed the response: "Just before 2.15pm we responded to a fire in Lyndon. In total, four fire engines and two brigade response vehicles attended, crewed by firefighters from Ward End, Willenhall, Smethwick and Solihull fire stations."
"This was a grass fire that had spread and affected around 20 properties. Thankfully, there were no casualties. Firefighters tackled the fire with hose reels and main jets. We also created fire breaks to try and prevent fire spread as much as possible."
"Due to the extreme heat, this was a very challenging incident. The fire was contained and extinguished, with our final fire engine leaving the scene at 10pm. A brigade response vehicle returned to the area shortly after 11pm to check for any remaining hotspots."
On Friday, the government announced a temporary ban on the sale of disposable BBQs as part of an attempt to prevent further fires. Residents affected by the damage are expected to need support, according to Councillor Adeyemo.
