Four people, including a child, have been hospitalised after multiple houses were set alight in a fire in Stourbridge, West Midlands Fire Service said.
A child and three firefighters were taken to hospital after the incident which saw many flee their homes after blazes started tearing through homes on the UK’s hottest day of the year.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was facing “extreme levels of demand” due to the fire, which saw six houses affected and involved 40 acres of land, including a wood.
Care home residents were among those who were evacuated as a result of the fire near Stourbridge golf course.
Around 60 firefighters attended the scene after being alerted to the blaze at around 1.30pm, with the fire service saying that more resources were added throughout the afternoon.
Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town on Dudley Borough Council, described the scene of the fire in Stourbridge as “apocalyptic”.
In a statement on Facebook, he said: “The apocalyptic scenes in Norton and across Stourbridge are sadly just a taste of what is to come if we don’t act.”
He added: “It is my view, and it has been for a while, that Dudley councillors must have an emergency meeting about we protect our borough from the impacts of climate change.”
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.”
He added: “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.
“There’s a lot of concern but there’s a lot of rallying around as well, lots of offering, you know, clothes, food, places to shelter, the local church has opened up.”
West Midlands Fire Service reported "extreme levels of demand" after homes were threatened by the major blazes.
Drone video shared by the service showed a thermal map of flames threatening nearby homes as heavy smoke drifted over the town.
Stourbridge town hall has now opened as a rescue centre for displaced residents.
The grass fire follows scorching temperatures across the region and other parts of the UK.
In a statement on its incidents page, West Midlands Fire Service said: “Around 60 firefighters are tackling an extensive grass fire near Stourbridge golf course, in the Racecourse Lane area.
“We were first alerted to it just before 1.30pm on Thursday.
“Flames are spreading across roads in places. Please avoid the area.
“If smoke is affecting your home or workplace, keep doors and windows closed as a precaution.”
Elsewhere in the region, smoke from nearby wildfires forced the closure of the M6 northbound between junctions five and six – causing more than two hours of delays.
Explaining the closure, National Highways West Midlands said in a statement: “The fire keeps igniting. Fire commander at the scene not happy for M6 to be reopened until fire fully extinguished.”
The road later reopened but motorists continued to face six miles of congestion.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said they are responding to a “large fire” in Salford Priors, Stratford-on-Avon. It urged residents in the area to close all doors and windows.
Police, fire crews and ambulances are at the scene of the wildfire which has been declared a major incident.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 2.30pm on Thursday to reports of a large plume of smoke on Tothall Lane, Salford Priors in Stratford-on-Avon.
The fire service said: “On arrival crews discovered a wildfire which was spreading to nearby out-buildings.
13/8/26 5pm Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service have declared a major incident due to a large fire in Salford Priors. There is a large emergency presence in the area and we continue to advise residents nearby to close all doors and windows. Please stay away from the area. pic.twitter.com/r5OzNI5QJh
— Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (@WarksFireRescue) August 13, 2026
“There are currently 10 appliances in attendance. This incident has been declared a major incident.
“We would like to express that there is a large emergency presence in the area and we continue to advise residents nearby to close all doors and windows.
“Please stay away from the area. Our control room is receiving a large number of calls, so please contact us only in a genuine emergency.
“It’s imperative that residents take all steps to reduce any fire risk. Please read advice on our social media channels about fire and water safety.
“West Midlands Ambulance Service and Warwickshire Police are also on scene.”
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker described the “multiple fires across our region” as an “extremely worrying and fast moving situation”.
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.
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