Clara Margotin

Multiple wildfires spread across the West Midlands during the UK’s hottest day of the year, damaging homes, forcing evacuations and creating severe transport and utility disruption. A Stourbridge fire affected six houses, involved around 40 acres and sent a child and three firefighters to hospital, while fires in Pershore, Stoke-on-Trent and Warwickshire damaged properties and prompted further emergency responses. The M6 was temporarily closed because of smoke and rekindling flames, and Severn Trent Water warned of supply problems. Local officials described the situation as fast-moving and apocalyptic, with one councillor calling for urgent action on climate-change preparedness.