The aftermath of a wildfire in Stourbridge has revealed scenes of devastation, with 19 luxury homes destroyed and 18 others damaged by the inferno. Workmen were seen clearing rubble from properties along Racecourse Lane, an area where houses average £1 million, following the blaze that erupted on Thursday.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed the extent of the damage, with homes reduced to hollow shells, their roofs and windows obliterated. Key roads around the affected street and Stourbridge Golf Club remain closed as West Midlands Police conduct an investigation.
Network Rail workers were also present, examining railway tracks that had been scorched by the fire. The fire service has begun allowing evacuated residents to return to their properties.
Eyewitnesses described the fire's rapid progression. Neil Perry, who lives 20 miles away, returned to help farmers combat the flames. "The houses were literally exploding while we were in the fields - it was apocalyptic," he said, recounting how he raced back to help after seeing smoke 20 miles away. He noted the bravery of many residents who helped fight the fire and save property.
Another neighbor described the fire starting in a field and rapidly spreading. "It was horrible. How quickly the fire was moving was horrendous. It was really fast the way it moved across the field," they stated, estimating the affected area to be around 500 acres.
Andrew Jones, a local resident, initially mistook the smell of smoke for a bonfire before hearing sirens and seeing ash fall into his garden. He noted that the houses in the area were valued at approximately £1.5 million, but emphasized the emotional toll of losing possessions and the necessity for residents to seek temporary accommodation.
Barry Guest, an 83-year-old resident of Racecourse Lane for 32 years, described how the fire damaged his rear garden and necessitated firefighters breaking down his electric gates. He recounted seeing smoke and flames race across a field, ignite the railway embankment, and then spread rapidly towards the houses. Firefighters managed to save his property, a moment that brought his wife to tears. "It is like a warzone here. I've never seen anything quite as frightening as that," Guest said.
