LONDON, England: The “apocalyptic scenes” caused by huge blazes in the West Midlands have led to thousands of 999 calls on the UK’s hottest day of the year, a fire chief has said, reported PA Media/dpa.
Chief Fire Officer, Simon Tuhill, of West Midlands Fire Service, said one huge blaze in Stourbridge, which forced some people to flee after it started tearing through homes, left “extensive” devastation – adding that it was “one of the most significant” incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with.
Tuhill said he had been in touch with UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who released a statement shortly afterwards to pay tribute to the firefighters on the ground battling the wildfires.
Burnham said: “Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues.”
“My thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have been injured or forced from their homes, and with the firefighters who have been taken to hospital.
“I’m in touch with local leaders (including West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker) and will be speaking to emergency services on the ground as they continue their response.
“Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe. A huge thank you to them and everyone supporting the effort tonight.”
Nathan Hudson, from West Midlands Ambulance Service, said six people were treated by crews at the scene in the town, with two taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.
Burnham has pledged to support fire and rescue services in the region with any additional resources they need, the county’s mayor Richard Parker told Sky News.
Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for housing, communities and local government said: “We are working closely with the local Fire and Rescue Service and partners on the ground in Stourbridge and are being regularly updated.”
“I would like to thank the brave emergency services, and my thoughts are with people who have been forced to leave their homes.”
The Met Office said 38.1 degrees Celsius was recorded at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday (Aug. 13) – the second time this year the country has seen temperatures reach 38 degrees.
Temperatures are set to cool slightly today, with highs of 34 degrees expected in the south-east. But little rain is forecast for the Midlands and many parts of the country over the weekend.
The West Midlands was subject to an amber warning for extreme heat for much of Thursday before multiple fires were reported, which was set to expire just before midnight.
Speaking at the scene of the Stourbridge blaze, Tuhill said more than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene, saying the fire is believed to have started in the grassland before spreading to homes nearby.
An investigation into how the fire in Stourbridge, West Midlands, started will now begin, the chief fire officer said.
“Of course, we will carry out a joint investigation with police colleagues and our specialist fire investigation team,” Tuhill told a late night press conference.
“They will be here on scene as soon as they can to start investigating the possible cause.”
Before the press conference, Parker described the “multiple fires across our region” as an “extremely worrying and fast-moving situation”.
In neighbouring Worcestershire, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said a number of homes had been damaged, and 30 properties were evacuated in Pershore following a large fire on Lancelott Court.
The fire service said one person was treated for smoke inhalation, and about 200 homes in the area were left without power.
Severn Trent Water warned of disruption to water supply across the West Midlands as a result of the wildfires. The company said customers in Kidsgrove, near Stoke-on-Trent, may experience lower pressure and discoloured water because firefighters needed to use hydrants.
In Warwickshire, the county’s fire and rescue service said it was responding to a “large fire” in Salford Priors, Stratford-upon-Avon, which has been declared a major incident.
Police, fire crews and ambulances are at the scene of the wildfire.
Elsewhere in the region, smoke from nearby wildfires forced the closure of the M6 northbound between junctions five and six – causing more than two hours of delays.
Explaining the closure, National Highways West Midlands said in a statement: “The fire keeps igniting. Fire commander at the scene is not happy for M6 to be reopened until the fire is fully extinguished.”
The motorway later reopened, but motorists continued to face six miles of congestion. – BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
