Firefighters faced a challenging blaze at Perry Common Meadows in Birmingham on Thursday evening, with smoke billowing over gardens and scorching 2,000 square metres of parkland. The fire broke out on one of the hottest days of the year, near Witton Lakes Park in Erdington.
Fire Crews Respond Swiftly
West Midlands Fire Service received the alert shortly after 6.30pm on Thursday, July 9. Four fire appliances were dispatched to the scene, located next to St Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church on Perry Common Road. Crews worked for nearly two hours to bring the fire under control, using three main jets and one hose reel jet.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service confirmed: "We were called to reports of a field on fire at 6.39pm on Thursday. We sent four appliances to the scene. An area of the park around 2,000 square metres was on fire. We used three main jets and one hose reel jet to put it out. Our last engine left the scene at 8.35pm, around two hours after the incident started."
Resident Praises Fire Service
Andrew Vajda, a nearby resident, witnessed the incident from his garden. He said: "It all happened behind our garden so I noticed the thick smoke and immediately called the fire brigade, when I was told someone already called and they were on their way. The fire service were brilliant! It took them a while to find a road to access it, but once there, they were absolutely brilliant!"
Videos posted online captured the thick smoke filling the air as the fire took hold, highlighting the scale of the blaze in the dry, hot conditions.
Impact on Local Community
The fire scorched a significant area of grassland at Perry Common Meadows, a popular local park. The incident occurred during a period of high temperatures, which increased the risk of fires. No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained to the parkland without spreading to nearby properties. The swift response from firefighters prevented further damage.
The blaze serves as a reminder of the dangers of grassland fires during hot weather. West Midlands Fire Service has urged the public to be vigilant and avoid activities that could spark fires, such as discarding cigarettes or using barbecues in dry areas.
