“The community has been exceptional, looking out for each other."
Residents in Stourbridge and Birmingham are beginning to recover after wildfires destroyed homes and gardens across the West Midlands.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described the devastation as “absolutely horrendous” after visiting affected areas on August 18.
She walked through the remains of homes on Quarry Park Road in Stourbridge, Dudley.
The fire destroyed 19 properties across five streets.
The blaze began on August 13 and spread rapidly through dry conditions and strong winds.
Residents who fled their homes began returning on August 16 as fire service cordons were reduced.
Rayner said: “The community has been exceptional, looking out for each other.”
She also praised emergency services, police, ambulance crews, local authorities and community organisations for their response.
However, she acknowledged the devastating impact on families who had lost their homes and possessions.
West Midlands Fire Service chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said the investigation could take time.
The fire spread across around 500 acres, making the investigation particularly complex.
He said several fires had occurred across the West Midlands during the past month. Dry conditions have contributed to the increased wildfire risk.
Tuhill added that many fires appeared to have been caused by human activity. However, he stressed that this did not mean all the fires had been started deliberately.
Rayner also highlighted concerns about increasingly frequent wildfires and changing climate conditions.
She said the government had introduced an additional £100 million for equipment and specialist wildfire crews.
She added that fire services needed to adapt to increasingly frequent wildfire challenges.
For residents who witnessed the Stourbridge blaze, the experience has left a lasting emotional impact.
Eleven-year-old Thea spotted the fire in fields close to her home.
Her mother, Sarah, described the experience as “horrendous”, particularly as strong winds carried embers into other areas.
The family’s home escaped damage, but Sarah said it was “heart-breaking” seeing other residents lose everything.
Three fundraising appeals in Stourbridge have raised more than £20,000 for people affected by the fires.
Sarah said the response made her proud of the Stourbridge community.
She added that residents would recover because the community remained “strong and resilient”.
The devastation has also been felt in Warstock, Birmingham, where another major fire broke out on Thursday.
Six properties were destroyed, while a further 13 were affected.
The blaze also impacted more than 20 gardens.
Resident Tony Aldhouse described the aftermath as being “like a bomb’s dropped there”.
Carol Squires also lost her childhood home, where her 70-year-old father had been living.
The property’s roof and first floor were destroyed in the fire.
Squires said the loss was particularly painful because the house contained memories of her late mother.
More than £30,000 has been raised for families affected by the Warstock fires.
Local community groups have also been collecting essential supplies for residents who lost their homes.
However, donations were temporarily paused at Solihull Lodge Community Centre. The volume of supplies had filled the available space.
The centre has been providing toiletries, food and water to affected families.
Community organisers said many residents were still struggling to process what had happened.
Temporary accommodation was also being prepared for residents whose homes were no longer habitable.
The West Midlands fires come amid a period of dry and hot weather across the region.
The Met Office has forecast periods of rain this week, with heavier rainfall expected on Thursday.
Further rain is also forecast next week, although conditions are expected to become drier towards the weekend.
Investigations into the causes of the Stourbridge and Birmingham fires remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, communities across the affected areas continue supporting families facing the difficult process of rebuilding their lives.
