Fire boss thanks staff and public in open letter

A fire service chief has thanked emergency services and communities for their response to a series of fires across the West Midlands.

In an open letter published on Friday, chief fire officer, Simon Tuhill, said West Midlands Fire Service received thousands of 999 calls on 13 August - one of the hottest days of the year.

The most serious was a large fire in Stourbridge which destroyed 19 homes and forced dozens of people to evacuate.

Tuhill said the "unprecedented demand" had taken a "physical and emotional toll" on firefighters who worked in extreme heat and control staff who dealt with a constant stream of calls.

He also thanked staff involved in vehicle maintenance, logistics, welfare and communications for keeping the service operating.

"The statistics from that period - the number of incidents, the acres burned, the fire engines and other resources mobilised - are real, but they don't tell you what it felt like," he said.

Tuhill said there would be a debrief "to ensure every aspect of our response is fully understood and any lessons are identified".

West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service worked alongside firefighters to tackle the blazes, while neighbouring services sent extra crews.

Councils, utility companies and Network Rail also helped manage the impact of fires on infrastructure and essential services.

The British Red Cross supported affected residents, rapid response teams provided food, farmers used their own machinery to create firebreaks, and MPs helped to raise awareness of the situation.

Tuhill said the response would not have been possible without other organisations.

The BBC was told of Solihull Lodge community centre being overwhelmed by donations in the wake of the fire in Warstock.

Meanwhile local farmers came together in Stourbridge and used tractors to dig furrows, helping to contain the huge fire there.

Tuhill also thanked residents who stayed away from cordoned-off areas, followed emergency advice and brought water to firefighters working in the heat.

There had been "countless acts and expressions of kindness" from local businesses and community groups, he said, adding: "What you did has been seen and it is valued."

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