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A child and three firefighters have been taken to hospital as fires tore through homes in the West Midlands, where a local councillor described the scene as “apocalyptic”.
On the hottest day of the year, with temperatures soaring to 38.1C in Kew Gardens, more than 100 firefighters were tackling huge fires in the Stourbridge and Stratford-upon-Avon areas.
At Stourbridge golf course, an “extensive grass fire” spread across roads in places with people urged to stay indoors.
West Midlands Fire Service said that multiple houses caught fire and people were evacuated from their homes. The organisation said a child and three firefighters were taken to hospital.
Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town on Dudley Borough Council, described the scene of the fire in Stourbridge as “apocalyptic”.
Meanwhile, in Stratford-upon-Avon a major incident was declared at the scene of a wildfire. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 2.30pm to reports of a large plume of smoke on Tothall Lane, Salford Priors.
The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for much of England, covering parts of the south and east, as well as swathes of the Midlands.
Recap: West Midlands hit by fires on hottest day of the year
Huge blazes across the West Midlands led to “apocalyptic” scenes and led to thousands of 999 calls, a fire chief has said.
One of the fires, in Stourbridge, left “extensive” devastation and was “one of the most significant” incidents West Midlands Fire Service has ever dealt with.
Three members of fire service personnel and one child had been taken to hospital, while six members of the public were treated for smoke inhalation.
Many were also forced to flee after blazes tore through their homes on the UK’s hottest day of the year.
Also, a major blaze in nearby Pershore, Worcestershire, damaged a number of houses and forced the evacuation of 30 properties as temperatures rose across the UK.
And in Goldenhill area of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, emergency crews tackled a separate incident that struck “a small number of properties and gardens”.
(Getty)
Alex Ross14 August 2026 06:30
‘It’s hard to breathe’, resident says on fire
Resident Phillip Jones, who lives close to where the fire in Stourbridge has taken hold, told Sky News: “We noticed the smoke about one o’clock this afternoon, coming back from an orthodontist appointment and it just got thicker and thicker.
“It was quite hard to breathe, actually, when we left the car, getting to the home. I am at home and have locked up all the windows.
“There has been a steady stream of fire engines, police cars, helicopters above. A number of roads have been closed, a number of our friends have been evacuated from their homes.
“We have the golf course and then the cricket club between us and the fire. So, at the moment, we have grab bags by the door, ready to leave if we have to leave, but it hasn’t come to that yet, thankfully for us.”
Alex Ross14 August 2026 04:30
Warning over water supply in West Midlands
Severn Trent Water has warned of disruption to water supply across the West Midlands region as firefighters continue to battle wildfires.
In Kidsgrove, near Stoke-On-Trent, the utility said because fire services needed to use hydrants, customers may experience lower water pressure and discoloured water.
In a statement on its website about the current situation across the West Midlands, the company said: “We’re aware of the ongoing fire incidents in our region and are on site supporting emergency services as they respond.
“Our teams are assisting emergency responders and carrying out checks on our assets in the area to ensure they remain safe and operating as expected.
“We understand this will be concerning for local residents and would like to reassure customers that we are working closely with the emergency services and providing any support required.
“Some customers in the area may experience lower water pressure, no water supply or discoloured water while emergency services continue their response.”
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank customers for their patience while the incident is ongoing.”
Alex Ross14 August 2026 03:30
Wildfires are ‘one of the most significant’ incidents regional fire service has dealt wtih
The wildfires across the West Midlands have been “one of the most significant” incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with, chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said.
He told a press conference on Thursday evening: “This has been one of the most significant incidents that West Midlands Fire Service has ever attended.
“The devastation is extensive.
“We understand the impact that will have on the residents and the local community.
“We want to reassure everyone: we will do everything we can to minimise that and, of course, get people back into their homes.
“However, it is the case that the emergency service presence here will likely run in two days and that means, unfortunately, asking people to stay away for that period.”
Alex Ross14 August 2026 02:30
Investigation begins on how fire started in Stourbridge
An investigation into how the fire in Stourbridge started will be carried out, the region’s fire chief Simon Tuhill has said.
Asked by a reporter at the scene of the blaze how the fire started, he said: “At this stage, too early to say.
“Of course, we will carry out a joint investigation with police colleagues and our specialist fire investigation team.
“They will be here on scene as soon as they can to start investigating the possible cause.”
Asked by another reporter where the Stourbridge fire started, he added: “We think at this moment the fire started not in one of the homes and spread to the fields, but from the grassland and into the homes.”
Alex Ross14 August 2026 01:30
In pictures: Firefighters battle flames in Stourbridge
Firefighters attend as a wildfire spreads to homes in Stourbridge (Getty)
Emergency services are at the scene where a fire broke out in the Stourbridge area. Residents across the West Midlands are being urged to stay indoors amid two major fires in the region. Picture date: Thursday August 13, 2026. (PA Wire)
(Getty)
Alex Ross14 August 2026 00:30
Burnham thanks emergency services over ‘awful’ fires
Andy Burnham said he was in touch with local leaders in the West Midlands as firefighters continue to bring several wildfires in the region under control.
He said in a statement: “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.
“Please stay safe and follow their advice.”
Six homes were impacted by fires in Stourbridge (Getty)
Alex Ross13 August 2026 23:45
Public told to only call 999 ‘where absolutely necessary’
The public should only call 999 “where absolutely necessary” as emergency services are tackling fires across the West Midlands, a police chief has said.
West Midlands Police incident commander Chief Inspector Tom Clayton told a press conference on Thursday evening: “From a police perspective, we are going to do our best, I’d like to reassure the community of Stourbridge and the wider West Midlands.
“We’re going to do our absolute best to service their business-as-usual policing needs.
“However, as you can understand, we are experiencing very, very high demand assisting our colleagues in this multi-agency response”.
Alex Ross13 August 2026 23:09
Burnham kept informed on wildfires in West Midlands
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he had spoken to Andy Burnham, who had pledged the fire and rescue services in the region would get any additional support they requested.
Mr Parker told Sky News: “Our plan is to visit the area tomorrow to speak to some people on the ground there.
“I don’t want to get in the way of the important work going on this evening, but I want them to know they have my full support, and I’ll be working with the local authorities and others across the region to see what we can do to support them at this really difficult time.
“I would also like to convey a message to them from the prime minister, who I spoke to earlier this evening, but has asked me if the fire service on the ground needs additional support, and I’ll be speaking to the chief officer a bit later, to ask him what we can do.
Firefighters attend as a wildfire spreads to homes in Stourbridge (Getty)
Alex Ross13 August 2026 22:27
Fire service in West Midlands takes ‘thousands of 999 calls’
West Midlands Fire Service has dealt with “thousands of 999 calls” as more than 100 firefighters battled blazes across the region, chief fire officer Simon Tuhill has said.
He told a press conference on Thursday evening: “This is a large and complex incident that has occurred on one of the hottest days of the year.
“Our fire control team have been dealing with thousands of 999 calls, whilst coordinating attendance at other operational incidents across the West Midlands.
“The tinder-dry conditions that the country and the West Midlands are facing at the moment has meant that the fire has spread rapidly, despite the hundred-plus firefighters’ best efforts who are on scene and in attendance.
“Rest assured, they are doing everything they can to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.”
Alex Ross13 August 2026 22:11