Firefighters were battling to contain a series of major wildfires across the West Midlands on Friday after flames tore through homes, forced residents from their properties and triggered thousands of emergency calls during Britain’s latest heatwave.
More than 100 firefighters were deployed to the largest blaze in Stourbridge, where flames ripped through grassland before spreading towards nearby homes in what West Midlands Fire Service described as one of the most significant incidents it had ever faced.
Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said crews were making progress but warned that the emergency response could continue for days.
“Fire crews are making progress and tactically working across several different areas of the site,” the fire service said in a Friday morning update.
Mr Tuhill said the scale of the Stourbridge fire was exceptional, describing it as “one of the most significant” incidents the service had dealt with.
I’ve just heard a man breaking down as he described trying to save his home from the raging Inferno which engulfed Stourbridge, UK.
Meanwhile, the UK PM meekly hopes he can “persuade retailers to temporarily stop selling disposable barbecues”
The UK is dangerously unprepared…
— Dr Tom Montgomery (@DrTOMontgomery) August 14, 2026
The fire sent huge plumes of smoke across the town, with footage showing buildings ablaze and flames spreading across roads. Residents were urged to stay indoors, while Stourbridge Town Hall was converted into a rescue centre for people forced to flee.
Six people were treated by ambulance crews at the scene, with two taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Mr Tuhill said firefighters would remain at the scene for days and urged the public to stay away while crews tackled hotspots.
An investigation into the cause of the Stourbridge fire will begin once conditions allow. West Midlands Fire Service said it would work with police and specialist fire investigators to establish how the blaze began.
The fires have also triggered a wider emergency across the region.
Horrific scenes in Stourbridge. Like something from a horror movie https://t.co/nGZrrKROyB pic.twitter.com/u4uiksDhis
— Matt (@M4ttNoodles) August 13, 2026
In neighbouring Worcestershire, about 30 properties were evacuated in Pershore after a large fire at Lancelott Court damaged homes. One person was treated for smoke inhalation, while about 200 homes temporarily lost power.
A further fire hit properties and gardens in Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, while a large blaze in Salford Priors, Warwickshire, was declared a major incident.
Smoke from the fires also forced the closure of the northbound M6 between junctions five and six, causing delays of more than two hours.
National Highways said the fire had repeatedly reignited and the incident commander was unwilling to reopen the motorway until the flames were fully extinguished.
The disruption extended beyond roads. Severn Trent warned that customers in parts of the West Midlands could experience reduced water pressure and discoloured supplies as firefighters drew water from hydrants.
The scale of the fires prompted a direct intervention from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who said he was in contact with local leaders and emergency services and pledged support for firefighters working in extreme conditions.
“Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues,” Mr Burnham said.
“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.”
Hard to believe this is the UK.
Unfortunately the scenes in Stourbridge will almost certainly become more frequent as our climate continues to rapidly warm. pic.twitter.com/bx1OBEfN0A
— Met4Cast – UK Weather (@Met4CastUK) August 13, 2026
Richard Parker, the West Midlands mayor, said Mr Burnham had pledged to provide fire and rescue services with whatever additional resources they required.
The Met Office recorded 38.1C at Kew Gardens on Thursday, the second time temperatures had reached 38C in Britain this year. Although temperatures are expected to ease to around 34C in south-east England on Friday, little rainfall is forecast across the Midlands and much of the country over the weekend.
The West Midlands had been under an amber extreme heat warning for much of Thursday as the fires spread.
Residents described the scenes in Stourbridge as extraordinary. Phillip Jones, who lives near the blaze, said smoke made it difficult to breathe as he left his car.
He said his household had prepared “grab bags” by the door in case they were forced to evacuate.
Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, called the devastation “apocalyptic”, warning that the fires offered a stark demonstration of the risks posed by extreme weather.
For firefighters, however, the immediate priority remains containing the flames and preventing further homes from being lost.
With dry conditions forecast to persist, emergency services across the Midlands face another difficult weekend on the front line of Britain’s increasingly severe summer heat.
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