Around 60 firefighters were sent to tackle a large fire that broke out near Stourbridge Golf Course on Thursday afternoon, with witnesses describing flames spreading across roads in the surrounding area. West Midlands Fire Service confirmed no injuries had been reported, though some nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
A dense plume of smoke began rising over the area from around 13:00 BST, prompting officials to advise the public to steer clear of the vicinity. Residents living close to the scene were told to keep their doors and windows closed as crews worked to contain the flames.
How far did the smoke spread?
The smoke was visible for several miles, with residents in nearby towns reporting a strong burning smell in the air. A reporter for a regional broadcaster, Ian Murphy, said he detected the odour in Wollaston, some distance from the blaze itself.
The inside of the house smells so strongly that I went to check in the garden and upstairs in case the fire was much closer.
He added that relatives living closer to the source of the fire had noticed it shortly after it began.
My parents live round the corner from the fire and said they first noticed it when they went to sit outside at around 13:00 BST.
They can hear very loud explosions, loud cracking and there's loads of dense smoke in the air.
Is this part of a wider pattern of fires this summer?
The Stourbridge fire follows a string of significant blazes across the country in recent weeks. Firefighters recently spent time containing a blaze at a beauty spot near Colchester, where around 50 crew members worked to surround a fire on Ministry of Defence land. Just days earlier, a major incident was declared over a fast-moving heath fire in Suffolk, which required around 90 firefighters to tackle as it spread rapidly across Dunwich Heath. Together, these incidents highlight an unusually active period for large outdoor fires this season.
What happens next for evacuated residents?
It remains unclear how long residents who were evacuated will need to stay away from their homes, as fire crews continue working to bring the blaze under control. Authorities have not yet indicated a cause for the fire near the golf course.
Key Facts
- About 60 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze near Stourbridge Golf Course.
- The fire was first reported around 13:00 BST on Thursday.
- No injuries have been reported, according to West Midlands Fire Service.
- Some nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
- Smoke from the fire was visible several miles away, including in Wollaston.
