Fire services ‘under pressure’ as evacuated residents still not home

Eleven major fires in the past 48 hours and 43 new wildfires since Friday have left services under “incredible pressure”, a fire boss has said.

Phil Garrigan from the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) said major incidents had been declared across the UK, including in Stourbridge, Sandwell, Pershore and Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands, as well as in Hampshire and South Wales.

Many residents forced to flee their homes following the fires are still in the dark about when they can return.

In Stourbridge, where 38 houses have been destroyed or damaged, frustrated residents said they were not getting any answers, although it was hope they may go home later on Saturday.

West Midlands Assistant Chief Fire Officer Simon Barry told residents the fire there was under control and they were just dampening down hot spots.

He said as far as the service was concerned, homes were no longer at risk and he hoped some residents whose homes had been unaffected would be able to move back on Saturday evening.

In a recorded online briefing, Dudley Council chief executive Balvinder Hera stressed residents should not return home until explicitly told they could do so.

She said decisions to reopen roads were being taken on a street-by-street basis, with the council working closely with emergency services.

Police were keen to hear from people with information or video footage that could assist inquiries and had asked the public not to speculate on the fire’s cause, she said.

An online fund, external has been set up by the council to allow people to donate to those affected.