Summary

  • "The whole street was filled with smoke," a student describes the moment their neighbours' houses burned down in the West Midlands fires

  • Homeowners are assessing the damage - yesterday the fire service said 19 houses have been "fully destroyed" in the region, with 18 suffering extensive fire damage

  • Our reporter on the scene in Stourbridge - one of the worst affected areas - says some people were allowed to return home overnight, but only for a few minutes to collect their possessions

  • Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill tells the BBC work is continuing to get the fires under control - calling it "one of the most serious" operations he's ever seen

  • Millions across England and Wales were sent a wildfire emergency alert on Friday evening - warning against "any activity that could start a fire"

  • Earlier, in a visit to Stourbridge, Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned the country is like a "tinderbox"

Live Reporting

Edited by Rebecca Woods, written by Susie Rack and Shannen Headley

  1. Work continuing to bring fire under control, says chief fire officer

    Chief Fire Officer Simon Tunhill in black uniform speaking to the screen during a remote interview. The background behind him is blurred

    In an update on the current situation in Stourbridge, West Midlands Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill says work is continuing to bring the fire under control.

    Tuhill tells BBC Breakfast the blaze was "one of the most serious I've seen as an operational firefighter in 38 years in the fire rescue service", saying he's "massively proud" of intervening fire crews.

    Thirty-eight properties have been affected so far - 19 were "completely destroyed" while another 19 were damaged.

    Three firefighters had to be treated by the ambulance service, he says, including one who had to be taken to hospital. Tuhill says "she's fine" now and has already returned to the scene to help colleagues who are ensuring hot spots do not break out.

    On the cause of the blaze, he says an investigation is under way but it will take time to identify where the fire started due to the size of the area affected - "over 500 acres, a huge area", Tunhill adds.

    He asks the public to "be responsible" and abide by a government alert warning people not to light anything that could spark a wildfire.

  2. Stourbridge cordons could stay in place for some time - police

    Amy Cole
    Reporting from Stourbridge

    There are several cordons still in place in Stourbridge, and police say they could well be in place for some time.

    Yesterday some residents were escorted back to their properties – but only for a few minutes to collect a few possessions.

    More people this weekend may well be allowed to go back to their homes just to see the extent of the damage.

    Nineteen homes have been fully destroyed by the fire, the local fire service says, a further 18 suffering extensive fire damage.

    This is a catastrophe on an epic scale.

  3. Residents wait to find out what has happened to their homes after West Midlands wildfires

    Jacob Phillips
    Live reporter

    Drone footage shows an ariel shot of several homes which no longer have a roof or have fire damage. A fire engine and a red van can be seen at the front of the street and emergency workers can be seen walking through burnt trees behind the homesEPA/Shutterstock

    Drone footage shows damaged homes in Stourbridge

    Residents are waiting to find out what is left of their homes and possessions after more than 30 properties were destroyed or damaged in wildfires in the West Midlands.

    Nineteen homes were destroyed and 18 damaged as flames ripped through grass and woodland in Stourbridge after a fire started at a golf course on Thursday.

    Student Dominic Abdullah tells the BBC there were "roof tops just burning, the whole street covered in smoke" as he watched neighbouring homes burn down. Residents had just minutes to evacuate as the fire spread.

    Police are keeping an open mind to how the fire - which West Midlands Fire Service says is one of the most significant incidents they have ever dealt with - may have started.

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the scene as "devastating" and compared Britain to a "tinderbox" after visiting Stourbridge on Friday.

    The conditions prompted a national alert to be sent to mobile phones warning of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally".

    It asked people to not do anything that could spark a fire.