FIRES ACROSS WEST MIDLANDS DAMAGE HOMES AND CLOSE ROADS

Four people were taken to hospital and six homes damaged as fires spread across the West Midlands on Thursday, the UK's hottest day of the year. A 16-hectare grassfire near a golf course in Stourbridge was one of several significant blazes in the region. Twelve fire engines carrying about 60 crew were dispatched to the Stourbridge scene after the fire service was alerted just before 1.30pm. Three firefighters and a child were hospitalised for treatment, whilst a further six people were treated for smoke inhalation.

The Stourbridge fire spread to nearby woodland and homes, with the fire service describing it as a wildfire with several points of origin. Local rail services were disrupted and roads closed due to smoke, fire and fallen trees. Stourbridge town hall was opened to receive those evacuated from their homes, with care home residents also removed to safety. Separate fires in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent, and Castle Vale near Birmingham caused further destruction, with northbound traffic on the M6 near Birmingham temporarily closed due to smoke, causing delays exceeding two hours. In Pershore, Worcestershire, 30 properties were evacuated and 200 left without power. Warwickshire's fire and rescue service declared a major incident as crews fought a large fire in Salford Priors, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Fire chiefs warned that emergency service operations in affected areas would continue for days. The fire service urged residents to remain away from affected zones during ongoing response efforts. Multiple blazes across the region tested emergency services' capacity during exceptionally hot weather conditions.