Stourbridge fires - live: Burnham appoints Fire Minister as 19 homes fully destroyed

Stourbridge fires - live: Burnham appoints Fire Minister as 19 homes fully destroyed Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Stourbridge in the West Mildands this afternoon, where a grass fire spread out of control and destroyed several homes yesterday Andy Burnham has been in Stourbridge today following "apocalyptic" fires, with multiple homes destroyed and emergency crews battling blazes across the West Midlands. Fires also broke out in Stoke-on-Trent, Stratford-upon-Avon and Pershore, with hundreds left without power. A "large fire" in Salford Priors was declared a major incident. Homes in Stourbridge were evacuated yesterday after the blaze broke out near Stourbridge Golf Course when a major grass fire spread. Nineteen houses have been fully destroyed and 18 damaged by the wildfire, West Midlands Fire Service Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill said. Mr Burnham said "Britain is a tinderbox right now" as he announced plans to commission firefighting planes to combat the spread of wildfires. Simon Markey, 60, the chairman of Stourbridge Golf Course, described the scene as 'like Armageddon' as players were evacuated yesterday evening. The PM has appointed Baroness Blake of Leeds as the UK's fire minister, the Government said, as more than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded across the country this year. Key Events Friday was provisionally a record-breaking 10th day in 2026 where temperatures have exceeded 35C or more, according to the Met Office. Frittenden, near Ashford in Kent, was among the hottest places, where temperatures reached 35.3C. Millions of people in England and Wales received an alert on their mobile devices on Friday evening, warning them of "a very high risk of wildfires nationally". Mr Burnham said the emergency alert system was triggered at the request of fire and rescue officers. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged members of the public not to light fires in "tinderbox" Britain. This before a meeting with farmers whom he warned are "at the sharp end of a changing climate". Police in Wales are investigating a ‘deliberate fire’ that was set on the mountain near Pleasant Heights in Porth. Four 14-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire was set on a mountain in South Wales, police said. The teenagers have since been bailed under investigation, the force added. Read the full story here. - Nineteen homes were destroyed in the Stourbridge fire, while a further 18 properties were damaged. - The blaze spread rapidly through grass and woodland on Thursday before reaching residential areas. - Two people were taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation. - West Midlands Fire Service chief fire officer Simon Tuhill described it as one of the most significant incidents the service had ever faced. - Investigators are working with other emergency services to establish how the fire started, with police keeping an open mind over the cause. - Some of the worst-hit areas remain cordoned off and a number of evacuated residents have been unable to return home. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said: “It is awful to see the devastation fires have caused across the country. I’m very grateful to all the first responders working so hard to keep people safe. A number of firefighters were taken to hospital as a result of incidents yesterday and I pay tribute to their bravery and commitment. “As the Prime Minister said, we will do everything to make sure our fire services have the resources they need from us and our support to deal with the unprecedented risks being driven by this heatwave. As well as supporting firefighters on the ground now, my department will hold a summit bringing together fire chiefs, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Fire Brigades Union and other key organisations to look at our future response. “To the residents affected, particularly those who lost their homes and their life’s possessions to fire – we will work with the mayor and local leaders to make sure you are supported.” The use of the emergency alert to warn about wildfires is the most extensive use of the system to date, the Government said. First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said: “In response to the continued risk proposed by wildfires, the government has taken the decision to issue an emergency alert to England and Wales. This is the most extensive use of the UK’s emergency alert system in response to an active incident, and reflects the seriousness with which the government is acting to safeguard people and property. “During this period of extreme heat, we are asking people to take simple steps to limit the risk of further fires. By following the safety guidance, everyone can play their part in protecting local communities and supporting our frontline services who are working around the clock to keep people safe. “The government will continue to provide every assistance to communities being impacted by these fires, including the deployment of 100 additional military personnel in major incident areas.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged people to “take the emergency alert seriously”, adding: “Our priority now is to keep everyone safe and prevent more fires from starting.” An emergency alert was sent to mobile devices in England and Wales at the request of fire and rescue services, the Prime Minister said, as he urged members of the public to “take the emergency alert seriously”. Andy Burnham wrote on X: “This evening, an emergency alert has been sent to people across England and Wales as the wildfire risk remains very high. The request came directly from fire and rescue services. “I was in Stourbridge today and saw first-hand the devastating impact these fires have had on people’s homes and lives. “Our priority now is to keep everyone safe and prevent more fires from starting. “During this period of extreme heat, I’m asking everyone to take extra care. Please do not light any fires in gardens, the countryside or other open spaces, including parks, moorland and wooded areas. “Our firefighters and emergency responders are working around the clock in incredibly difficult conditions. “We can all help them. Please take the emergency alert seriously and follow the guidance in place.” Read more about it here. Mercedes, 36, told how she spotted ash coming into her home and looked out to see flames just 20ft away. “It was very, very scary. The big tree was lit up and the grass was sizzling. The panic was more when we were trying to phone the fire service, it took a while because they were so busy. “This was about 3.15pm.” Her partner Lucas, 34, added: “We could have been trapped because the flames were jumping”. He points out how fires had started to the right and left of their homes. Another resident Abbi Lee, 32, said of the fires: “It’s been non stop round here. We’ve had about four or five this summer. “For us the scariest was on Tuesday. A lady was hanging over her fence trying to hose down the fire and her fence caught while she was leaning over it. The flames were as high as the house. “She’s okay but she was screaming and the fire brigade had to rescue her. Another young lad was in hospital with smoke inhalation. “We think a lot of them are being set by kids.” Residents in King’s Norton in Birmingham told how they are living in fear of wildfires. They said they have been left feeling ‘scared, stranded and alone’. Colin Tyndall, 32, told how two days ago he “lost everything” after waste ground behind his home burst into flames. Speaking as he shows us his destroyed belongings, all charred and scattered over the garden, he said: “Four weeks ago I had an electrical fire so moved all my belongings into the shed. Then that was burnt down. “Some kids started a fire on wasteland behind me. We are getting fires every other day now. “I’ve got six kids and I’m scared to go to sleep because of the fire risk round here.” He told how on Thursday his neighbours on a nearby street then saw their homes vanish completely, after flames took hold. “One man has dementia and it’s all gone. He’s lived there 43 years. The flames were atrocious. “We feel scared, stranded and alone here,” he added. Baroness Blake of Leeds has been appointed fire minister, the Government said, as more than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded across the country this year. Taj said she feels “devastated” for those who have lost their homes because of a fire that ripped through properties in Stoke-on-Trent. “It was horrible – to see all those flames was just devastating," she told the Press Association. “It was people’s homes, their memories. It’s just horrible – you read about these things but you don’t ever think it’s going to be on your doorstep. “I’m so so grateful…. It’s absolutely gutting and I’m devastated for those who have lost everything. “It has come our direction, we were so close. At one point we were like ‘will we come back to our home?’ “The fire crews have been amazing, you can’t thank them in words, we are so thankful for them.” Neighbours were panicking after flames from a grass fire spread to homes in Stoke-on-Trent, resident Samaira Taj added. Taj, who lives in Sandy Road, opposite the homes that were severely damaged by the fire, said: “We were told by the police we’ve got to get out. Everyone was out there panicking. “Then we were told to go back in and close all windows and doors. Then about five minutes later we had banging at the door and it was three police officers saying ‘out, now’. I had nothing but my phone. “It was me, my husband and my 13-year-old son in a panic. It was just awful. “It was great community spirit, everyone got together and was offering water. But the people whose houses it was… there was a woman crying. “I think at that point, nobody knew what had happened and how much damage had been done. “Then after about 10 minutes we realised it was just burning out of control.” A woman who lives opposite the homes that were severely damaged by a grass fire in Stoke-on-Trent has told how shaken up she was as the flames engulfed her neighbours’ properties. Samaira Taj, from Sandy Road in the Goldenhill area of the city, said she was grateful to the fire service who acted quickly. She said: “At one point I thought we were going to go up in flames. It was so scary, I can’t tell you how shaken up we were. “We were inside and we were going to have food. I said to my husband why don’t we eat outside because it’s nice? “We opened the back door and it had gone all black. Then we could smell smoke. “I opened the door and all we could see was smoke and flames.” Anthony Marsh, chief executive at West Midlands Ambulance Service, has the emergency services for "their professionalism and hard work" tackling the multiple fires that engulfed the region on Thursday. "Yesterday was an extremely busy day for our crews, responding to a number of serious fires across the region," he said. "I am immensely proud of my commanders and staff for the way in which they performed their duties." The cause of the fire is still unknown but is under investigation, fire chief Simon Tuhill has announced. Specialist fire investigators are working hard to establish the source of the blaze, he added. Nineteen houses have been fully destroyed and 18 damaged by the wildfire in Stourbridge, West Midlands Fire Service Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill has announced in a press conference. The areas in red show where fires have impacted Stourbridge over the past 24 hours. Andy Burnham has urged members of the public not to light open fires "of any kind" as it could mean "taking risks with other people's homes and lives". Speaking during a visit to Stourbridge, Burnham warned people to dispose of cigarettes carefully amid "combustible" conditions. "I would want to say to the public - you can see what's happening, 37 significant fires across England and Wales, please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind," he said. The Government has issued a temporary ban on sale of disposable barbecues. The single-use grills "have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months", advice published on the government website says. "Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time." The announcement comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested earlier this week that the measure could be introduced. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the scene in Stourbridge today as "utterly devastating" as he met with residents who were forced out of their homes and "lost everything" following yesterday's fire. He added: "I wanted to show my appreciation to the fire and rescue service here in the West Midlands, but also to police and ambulance that have been working together on the ground. "They've done an incredible job." Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the country as a "tinderbox". He said the fires are "not over by any means" and that this weekend could be a really challenging one. Speaking to reporters in Stourbridge, Burnham said: "Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind. We're going to go into the rest of the weekend [...] This is not over by any means. "We've got 37 fires smouldering around the country, so it could be more. So please bear that in mind at all times." Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the Government will commission firefighting planes to combat the spread of wildfires. Speaking from Stourbridge in the West Midlands this afternoon, he said: "Firstly, we have seen the military deploy 100 personnel, initially to the major incident in South Wales, and we're very grateful to our colleagues in the Ministry of Defence for that. That support is critically needed." He adds: "With so many incidents, it is crucial that the military support is there if fire and rescue services can’t do the same backup that they would normally be doing. So that is hugely appreciated. "The second issue is around aerial firefighting capability, the planes that people might see in other countries. We have taken a decision to deploy nationally aerial firefighting support, so commissioned nationally. "But that obviously wasn't available here, but it will be available elsewhere, and it would have made a difference." Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a large fire damaged four homes in Stoke-on-Trent, police have said. Staffordshire Police said they received a call from the local fire service shortly before 4.15pm on Thursday as fire crews responded to a grass fire at the back of Maureen Avenue which was spreading quickly. A 23-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, both from Stoke-on-Trent, have been arrested on suspicion of arson after the incident, the force added. The fire, which has now been brought under control, affected four homes and a number of gardens, police said. Firefighters have continued working at the scene of a large fire at Sandy Road in Stoke-on-Trent. The nearby Goldenhill Community Centre has opened its doors to residents needing support after several homes were evacuated. Six firefighters have been taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion in blazes across the West Midlands, Staffordshire Fire Service said. Glynn Luznyj, chief fire officer for the service, said: "Crews have been working tirelessly through the night and thankfully the Goldenhill, Parkhall, Tamworth and Cannock Chase fires are now under control. "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. "We're working extremely hard to keep everyone safe, but we really need people to do their part to prevent these fires from happening in the first place." A separate woodland fire which broke out in Sheffieled yesterday is believed to have been caused deliberately. A South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said four fire engines were called to a grass fire near Bankwood Close, Sheffield after a call was received at 3.48pm. "Water backpacks, hoses and beaters were used to extinguish the fire and the incident had been dealt with by 6.48pm," the spokesperson added. "The incident is believed to have been caused deliberately. "Setting fires deliberately puts lives at risk. That's why the maximum sentence for arson is life in prison. We urge anyone with information about deliberate fire setting in your area to please share what you know by calling Firestoppers on 0800 169 5558." Several homes in Stourbridge have been left gutted following the grass fire that erupted near Stourbridge Golf Course yesterday afternoon. Aerial footage shows the aftermath of the blaze this morning. A fire commander appeared at the scene earlier with video to show waiting residents checking if their homes were damaged, destroyed or intact. One resident said: "I'm not sure if my home is still there or not," as he asked to see the photographer's drone footage to check. Stourbridge locals have told how the flames were whipped up by the wind, moving one hundred metres a minute. It destroyed a thatched cottage and three huge homes on Brunswick Gate, leaving the house gutted. Tracey Jones, 55, who lives on Ounty John Lane, told how she had to flee from the flames with her miniature Schnauzer Zinny. "I looked out my window and the sky was full of smoke," she told the Mirror. "I felt like the fire was coming towards our house. I went down the drive but the gates would not open and in my panic I could not do it manually." Her husband, retired builder Richard, aged 60, who built their home, was playing golf and threw his clubs in the car as he hurried to help his wife. He said: "I was playing golf at 1.30pm with the chairman and we got to the top of the hill and we could see a fire over the road, just in the field. "We played two holes and the fire was at the hedge of the golf club. It was like the ellipse from the night before, the sun was blacked out by the smoke. "The flames were in our next door neighbour’s garden, they were 15ft high flames and our garden is fine just checked on drone, it's amazing".