‘It’s due to climate’: Stourbridge residents on the town’s devastating wildfires
Wildfires in Stourbridge, where temperatures hit a record 38.1C, destroyed 19 homes and damaged 18 more. Residents and a bishop say the disaster is a wake-up call on climate change.
Devastating wildfires in Stourbridge
People in Stourbridge have described the wildfires that tore through their town as horrendous and distressing, with flames rising above house roofs. The fires broke out across the West Midlands on Thursday, when the UK recorded a new high of 38.1C during its fifth consecutive heatwave.
Emergency services said 54 people were treated at eight separate fires on Thursday, 19 of whom were taken to hospital. Fire officials confirmed that 19 homes in Stourbridge, a market town in Dudley, were completely destroyed and another 18 damaged.
During a visit on Friday, regional leader Andy Burnham called the UK a "tinderbox" and said he had commissioned firefighting planes to deal with future wildfires. "I've never seen scenes like this anywhere in Britain," he told the BBC.
Evacuees speak out
Many residents were forced to leave in haste as the fire advanced near the town's golf course. Gemma Hobbs and her partner Andy, evacuated from Osmaston Road, described seeing thick black smoke and leaving immediately. Andy said the fire had spread over more than 40 acres in an unexpectedly short time.
Neighbour John Bairner took shelter with Gareth Jones. Jones described the speed of the fire as "absolutely frightening", saying the scene was one of devastation and among the scariest days of his life. Bairner said the fields were black and residents were still damping down smouldering ground.
An evacuation centre was set up at Old Swinford Hospital, a boarding school. Headteacher Paul Kilbride said more than 20 people from a nearby care home were evacuated, and that evacuees were tired but in good spirits.
Climate concerns
Resident Laurence Green, who spent the night at the school, said the damage was a wake-up call about climate change. He criticised the temporary ban on disposable barbecues announced by Burnham as "pathetic" in comparison. Green said he had argued with a Conservative councillor who did not want to discuss climate, insisting that "it's due to climate" and politics should be part of the debate.
Bishop of Dudley Martin Gorick, also evacuated, said the extreme heat was not normal for England and called for less reliance on fossil fuels. He praised the community's response, noting that churches, mosques, shops and volunteers of all backgrounds came together to provide bedding, food and medicine.
