Joe Coughlan
Live reporter

Fires across the West Midlands have caused "extensive" devastation, the region's chief fire officer Simon Tuhill has said - adding that "tinder-dry conditions" have allowed the fires to spread rapidly.

About 100 firefighters have been tackling a huge grass fire in Stourbridge, which has spread to several homes. Footage showed buildings engulfed in flames.

"We think at this moment the fire started not in one of the homes and spread to the fields, but from the grassland and into the homes," Tuhill said earlier.

Our reporter in the town, Ben Sidwell, said he was "stunned by the devastation" he had seen.

Meanwhile, four homes have been destroyed by a fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent, and a woman was seriously injured from a fire that ripped through houses in Castle Vale, Birmingham.

Multiple fires were also reported across Birmingham's Druids Heath and Kings Norton.

A major incident over a large fire in Warwickshire has since been stood down, while a blaze in Pershore, Worcestershire, is now under control.

Across the region, three members of the fire service were taken to hospital - as well as two members of the public in Stourbridge due to smoke inhalation.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the scenes "awful" - while offering a "huge thank you" to the firefighters across the region.

We're pausing our live coverage now - but will be back on Friday morning for more live reporting from across the region.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Richard Cartwright, from Stourbridge, says his friend called him in a "panicked" state as flames began heading towards his house.

"When I got down there he was battling the flames. The woods were full of smoke.

"Every time the winds changed you couldn't breath for the smoke.

"There was one bit of the fire that was a bit too big for us to bat and then a fire shot up the trees, 30 feet up.

"We are all fine but there was loads of people from Sandy Road using hosepipes just trying to do what they could."

Richard Price
BBC News, West Midlands

I've been to the Goldenhill Community Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, where several families are being put up after being forced from their homes by the fire today.

Chris and Pauline Norcup are among those here. They were out in Liverpool for the day when they found out about the huge blaze.

"When you look at the house [opposite] we can see that the moment, [it's] really devastated, the roof’s out and everything," Chris told me.

Pauline added: "We’ve got off the bus, saw the fire engines and thought 'oh crikey'. We got down there and [the police] said 'you can’t go back home'."

Four homes were destroyed by the fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent, one resident told us earlier, with others damaged.

Richard Price
BBC News, West Midlands

Firefighters have scaled down their presence at the fire they have been tackling in the Goldenhill area of Stoke-on-Trent.

At its peak, about 40 were on the scene but, with the blaze contained by 21:00 BST on Thursday, they reduced their crews.

Several residents have been supported at the Goldenhill Community Centre as they were forced to leave their homes.

Among them was Robert Windsor's mother. He said they smelt what they thought at first was leaves burning at 16:30.

"Within minutes, we looked across the roads and saw the conifers ablaze… basically I just had to get out and go, it was absolute carnage," he told me.

“I think everybody will rally round.

“Until I look from my mother’s house, halfway up, and see the actual damage, I dread to think [what the situation will be]."

Image source, Reuters

The prime minister has just sent this message on social media about the West Midlands fires.

"Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues.

"My thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have been injured or forced from their homes, and with the firefighters who have been taken to hospital.

"I’m in touch with local leaders like [West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker] and will be speaking to emergency services on the ground as they continue their response.

"Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe.

"A huge thank you to them and everyone supporting the effort tonight. Please stay safe and follow their advice."

West Midlands fire chief Simon Tuhill says an investigation will be carried out into how the Stourbridge fire started.

"We will carry out a joint investigation with police colleagues and our specialist fire investigation team," the PA news agency reports Tuhill as saying to a reporter earlier.

"We think at this moment the fire started not in one of the homes and spread to the fields, but from the grassland and into the homes."

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

I’ve seen properties in Stourbridge that have been completely destroyed by fire and others that have been badly damaged.

We’ve been told by residents that flames were 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.6m) high in places, and the fire spread indiscriminately across parts of the town.

I’m stunned by the devastation I’ve seen today.

Speaking after Tuhill, Nathan Hudson, the chief operating officer for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said today has been an "extremely busy day" for the service.

He said three double crewed ambulances and the service's hazardous area response team were sent to Norton Road, in Stourbridge.

The chief operating officer said six people were treated by crews at the scene, with two patients being taken to hospital after suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, and four being discharged at the scene.

More now from the West Midlands chief fire officer.

"The devastation is extensive," Simon Tuhill says.

He said the wildfires across the West Midlands have been "one of the most significant" incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with.

Tuhill said Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been kept updated on developments across the region.

Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill of West Midlands Fire Service has told reporters that the fires are a "large and complex incident" that has occurred on one of the hottest days of the year.

"Our fire control team have been dealing with thousands of 999 calls, whilst coordinating attendance at other operational incidents across the West Midlands," he said.

"The tinder-dry conditions that the country and the West Midlands are facing at the moment has meant that the fire has spread rapidly, despite the hundred-plus firefighters’ best efforts who are on scene and in attendance."

"Rest assured, they are doing everything they can to bring this incident to a safe conclusion."

We'll bring you more from the news conference soon

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

Image source, PA Media

Several homes have been badly damaged by the fire in Stourbridge this afternoon and evening, which the fire service said covered about 40 acres of land, including a wood.

Footage circulating on social media showed a number of buildings on fire and huge plumes of smoke coming from a nearby field.

The fire service said flames were spreading “across roads in places”, with people urged to stay indoors.

At one stage, firefighters were battling the flames from the railway line between Hagley and Stourbridge Junction.

Image source, Calvin Davies

A major incident at Salford Priors, near Alcester in Warwickshire, has been stood down, the county's fire and rescue service said.

Fire crews are still at the scene, a spokesperson added, but it was no longer being treated as a major incident.

The A46 has reopened to traffic in both directions between Salford Bridge and Arrow Services.

"Please continue to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area where possible," the fire service added.

Richard Price
BBC News, West Midlands

There is a police cordon at the bottom of Sandy Lane in Stoke-on-Trent with a number of residents gathered after the fire broke out earlier in the Sandyford area and some of those gathered here have been displaced from their homes.

From here we can see a fire engine with an aerial platform currently working on the fire and a firefighter unrolling a hosepipe in the direction of the blaze, which is further up the street.

It seems relatively calm here but smoke can still be seen billowing from the rooftops further along the street and there is a strong smell of smoke in the air too.

Here are some of the photos we've had shared from the fire service and the Press Association in Stourbridge.

You can see just how big the fire has been in the area, with people having to be evacuated from nearby homes.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Severn Trent Water has warned of disruption to water supplies across the West Midlands as firefighters continue to battle wildfires.

In Kidsgrove, near Stoke-On-Trent, the firm said because fire services needed to use hydrants, customers might experience lower water pressure and discoloured water.

In a statement on its website about the current situation across the West Midlands, the company said: "We’re aware of the ongoing fire incidents in our region and are on site supporting emergency services as they respond"

Stewart Kingscott
Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Pershore Leisure Centre is being used as an official rest centre for people affected by the fire in their area of Worcestershire.

Earlier we heard fire crews had been called to Three Springs Road.

One resident described seeing black smoke spreading "across the houses like a domino effect".

People can make their way to the leisure centre, a spokesperson for Wychavon District Council said.

They added they were aware of unofficial rest centres being set up and, while they appreciate the support and desire to help, said "the best way you can help is to direct people to the official rest centre",

Aerial footage shows the damage caused by the fire in Stourbridge this afternoon.

Several homes have been destroyed and a number of people have been treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

We also know three firefighers and a child were taken to hospital earlier.

The grass fire in Stourbridge has “several points of origin, West Midlands Fire Service says.

A spokesperson said the blaze now covered an area from Moreton Road to Iverley Lane, along the total length of Racecourse Lane from Norton Road to County Lane, and from Racecourse Lane to Worcester Lane.

Image source, PA Media

They added: “Our crews are working tirelessly to control the blaze, prevent it from spreading further and reigniting in these dry, hot conditions.

“Three members of fire service personnel have been taken to hospital, six members of the public have been treated for smoke inhalation as well as one child who has been taken to hospital."

Richard Price
BBC News, West Midlands

Four homes have been destroyed by the fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent, one resident said, describing them as "completely gone” with a couple of others also affected.

They added they were "devastated" at the fire and having to evacuate from their home.

“About 16.40, police came knocking on to get everybody out from Sandy Road," they said.

The blaze in Sandyford started at the bottom end of the park, he said, and because of the way the wind was blowing, it then blew towards the houses.

He said he had not been told yet whether or not they can return to properties.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said its crews are currently also responding to a number of fires across the region and asked people to avoid those if possible and let emergency services get on with their jobs.

"If smoke is affecting your home, keep doors and windows closed as a precaution," a spokesperson said.

"We would also ask the public to use 999 wisely and, where appropriate, consider whether other NHS services or sources of medical advice may be more suitable for their needs."