One child and three members of fire service personnel have been taken to hospital following a large wildfire in Stourbridge, with six members of the public also treated for smoke inhalation, West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed.
The blaze, which started just before 1.30pm on Thursday, has spread to involve multiple houses and roads, with flames crossing roads at the height of the incident. A witness described how the fire "went from a small fire to everywhere in less than a minute," adding that "there was a woman screaming on the side of the road."
Huge cordons remain in place, and Stourbridge Town Hall has been opened as a rest centre for residents who have left their homes. Our reporter at the scene said smoke was visible everywhere, with people stopping their cars to watch in disbelief. Two helicopters circled overhead as firefighters worked to control the flames, while surrounding routes were blocked with orange barriers.
Fire service update: multiple properties affected
In their latest update, West Midlands Fire Service described the incident as "a wildfire with several points of origin, now involving multiple houses on fire, covering the area from Moreton Road to Iverley Lane, along the total length of Racecourse Lane, from Norton Road to County Lane and from Racecourse Lane to Worcester Lane. This includes Stourbridge Golf Club and surrounding roads."
Roads in the area are closed due to smoke, fire, and fallen trees. The service urged drivers to avoid the area, stating: "If you must drive, avoid this area to let us manage this incident." They also noted that some local rail services have been stopped for safety reasons, and several properties are experiencing power issues.
Earlier, the force said the fire was affecting locations around Ounty John Lane, Racecourse Lane, and Stourbridge Road, with two casualties affected by heat and smoke.
Emergency response and public safety plea
West Midlands Fire Service said they are working alongside emergency service partners, as well as Severn Trent Water and West Midlands Railway. They described facing "extreme levels of demand as a service" and asked the public to "do whatever you can to stay safe and minimise the risk of outdoor fires."
They advised anyone directly affected by an ongoing fire not to risk tackling it themselves, but to "get to a safe place and call 999." They also warned drivers to take extra care, avoid areas of dense smoke, and not to head to areas where fires are taking place to watch.
Transport is being arranged for those who cannot make their own way to the rest centre at Stourbridge Town Hall. The fire service said crews are working "tirelessly to control the blaze, prevent it from spreading further and reigniting in these dry, hot conditions."
