A national government alert has been issued across England and Wales, warning the public not to light anything that could spark a wildfire. The warning, released Friday evening, follows a large fire in Stourbridge, West Midlands, which destroyed 19 homes and damaged 18 others. The blaze rapidly spread through grass and woodland on Thursday.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to take the warning seriously, stating it was requested by firefighters. West Midlands Fire Service chief fire officer Simon Tuhill described the Stourbridge incident as one of the most significant the service has encountered. Across England and Wales, 37 fires were reportedly burning.
In addition to the Stourbridge fire, other significant incidents occurred. In Stoke-on-Trent, four homes in Sandyford were destroyed and other properties damaged. Two people were arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with this fire, and six firefighters were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. In Willenhall, West Midlands, fires on Stonehouse Avenue and Harry Perks Street destroyed at least three homes and several gardens. Elsewhere in the West Midlands, fires caused extensive damage in Warstock and Kings Norton, Birmingham, leading to the arrest of a 55-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
In South Wales, four 14-year-olds from Porth were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been bailed pending investigation. Meanwhile, firefighters in Hampshire were in their sixth day of tackling a wildfire in the New Forest that began on Sunday. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service responded to sixteen emergencies on Thursday afternoon, including a fire at Mousehold Heath.
Investigators are working with emergency services to determine the cause of the Stourbridge fire, with police keeping an open mind. Some affected areas remain cordoned off, and many evacuated residents, including the Bishop of Dudley, have been unable to return home.