Ten people have been injured, including a child and three firefighters, after a large wildfire spread through Stourbridge, with the blaze now involving multiple houses. West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) confirmed that six members of the public suffered smoke inhalation, while the child and the firefighters were taken to hospital.
Fire Spread Rapidly from Grassland to Homes
The fire started in grassland near Stourbridge Golf Course in the Racecourse Lane area shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday, August 13. It quickly spread across roads, initially affecting six properties and around 40 acres of land, including woodland. The fire service said the blaze now covers a wide area, from Moreton Road to Iverley Lane, along the entire length of Racecourse Lane, from Norton Road to County Lane, and from Racecourse Lane to Worcester Lane.
WMFS stated: “This includes Stourbridge Golf Club and surrounding roads.” The scale of the fire has led to multiple fires being tackled simultaneously, with local rail services stopped for safety reasons.
Emergency Response and Public Safety Warning
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: “Our crews are working tirelessly to control the blaze, prevent it from spreading further and reigniting in these dry, hot conditions. We are working alongside our emergency service partners, as well as Severn Trent Water and West Midlands Railway.”
The spokesperson added: “We are currently facing extreme levels of demand as a service, and need your immediate help. Wherever you are in the West Midlands, please do whatever you can to stay safe and minimise the risk of outdoor fires. If you are directly affected by an ongoing fire, please DO NOT risk tackling it yourself. Get to a safe place and call 999. We will do our very best to get help to you as soon as we can.”
Support for Displaced Residents
Stourbridge Town Hall has been opened as a rest centre to provide a base for people who have left their homes because of the fire. Transport is also being arranged for those who cannot make their own way to the centre.
