Doorbell camera footage captured the moment a Stourbridge family fled their home as a wildfire engulfed their garden and property. Rose-Anne Vinten, her two children, and her partner Richard lost their home in the blaze, one of several wildfires that devastated the West Midlands.
Family's escape caught on camera
The footage shows Rose-Anne Vinten dashing through the garden of her Stourbridge home before the area bursts into flames seconds later. She had been in the living room with her windows closed when her nine-year-old daughter noticed smoke. With her husband Richard away at work, the family had no choice but to escape.
The family, including children Roman, 11, and Robyn, 9, had only moved into their new home five months prior. They have "lost everything" according to reports. Fire chiefs confirmed that 19 homes were destroyed and dozens more left damaged across the region, with witnesses describing scenes reminiscent of a war film.
Mother's bravery and emotional toll
Rose-Anne told ITV: "It was really scary. I knew at the same time I needed to be brave for my kids, because my daughter was really worried." She added: "When I went over to next door and saw them just standing there at the window, looking and they could see that their house was on fire, so I had to just hold it all in. I couldn't cry or anything."
Richard, who was away at work, had seen images of neighbouring properties on social media but did not realize the full extent of the damage until he returned home. He said: "It's heartbreaking, we'd only been there for five months. It's our forever home and it's gone. We knew the damage would be bad, but it was so surreal yesterday that the reality didn't really hit us. I was doomscrolling all night and when we saw a photo of our house, it was just devastating. It's been completely gutted. We've lost everything."
Wider impact and government response
The Stourbridge fire was not an isolated incident. Medics attended to 54 casualties, with 19 requiring hospital admission, following wildfires throughout the West Midlands, according to the region's ambulance service. The Prime Minister, while visiting Stourbridge, described the nation as a "tinderbox right now" and warned that the weekend could prove particularly challenging.
The Government has introduced a temporary prohibition on the sale of disposable barbecues. A friend helped the family secure a hotel room while they awaited a response from their insurers. Richard added: "There are sentimental things that we've lost, which is really sad, but we keep thinking it's only bricks and mortar. The important thing is that we are all safe. I'm so grateful to my wife for saving our children."
