Six firefighters have been taken to hospital after battling a series of major fires across Staffordshire, the fire service has confirmed. The crews were treated for smoke inhalation and the effects of heat exhaustion after working through the night in sweltering conditions.
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service said the fires at Goldenhill, Parkhall, Tamworth and Cannock Chase are now under control, but the unprecedented demand has left resources extremely stretched. The service is now appealing directly to the public for help in preventing further incidents.
Hospitalisation and recovery
In a statement, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "Six firefighters who have battled to contain the fires in sweltering heat have been taken to hospital following smoke inhalation and the effects of heat exhaustion."
Chief Fire Officer Glynn Luznyj added: "Crews have been working tirelessly through the night and thankfully the Goldenhill, Parkhall, Tamworth and Cannock Chase fires are now under control."
He confirmed that five of the firefighters have been discharged from hospital, while the sixth continues to recover. The incident is part of a wider pattern of fires across the Midlands, with several injuries reported in other blazes.
Urgent appeal to the public
With resources stretched, the fire service is calling on residents to take extra precautions. "Right now, we need your help," said Chief Fire Officer Luznyj. "Our resources are extremely stretched at the moment because of the unprecedented demand we're facing. Our firefighters are putting themselves in harm's way, night and day, to protect our local community."
The service has issued specific advice: do not burn garden waste, and if having a barbecue, keep it away from vegetation and have a water source or sand nearby. These measures are designed to reduce the risk of further fires starting.
Community support and next steps
Chief Fire Officer Luznyj also expressed gratitude for community support during the crisis. "It has been great to see people coming together to support each other. Crews have been provided with free food and refreshments and we've seen that people are coming forward to provide spare furniture and goods to those who have lost them to fires."
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service has published key safety tips on its website and is urging the public to follow them to help keep communities safe. The service continues to monitor the situation and asks anyone with information about fire risks to report them promptly.
