A major incident has been declared after a wildfire broke out in the Warwickshire countryside near Stratford-upon-Avon and began spreading to nearby outbuildings, drawing one of the largest emergency responses seen in the county this summer.
What happened
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 2.30pm on Thursday to reports of a large plume of smoke on Tothall Lane in Salford Priors, a village close to Stratford-upon-Avon. On arrival, crews discovered a wildfire that was spreading rapidly to nearby out-buildings. The service confirmed that 10 appliances are now in attendance and that the incident has been declared a major incident.
What firefighters are doing
Fire crews remain at the scene working to bring the blaze under control, supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service and Warwickshire Police. A large emergency presence is visible across the area, and the control room has asked the public to contact them only in a genuine emergency as it copes with a high volume of calls.
Advice to residents
Residents living near the fire have been urged to close all doors and windows and to stay away from the area while crews work. The fire service said it is “imperative that residents take all steps to reduce any fire risk” and pointed people to its social media channels for fire and water safety advice. Drivers have been told to take extra care in areas of dense smoke and not to travel to the scene to watch.
Wider pressure on the West Midlands
The Warwickshire fire comes as neighbouring services face extreme demand. West Midlands Fire Service said it was dealing with “extreme levels of demand” because of a separate fire in the Stourbridge area, where drone footage showed flames threatening homes and smoke billowing across the town. A rescue centre has been opened at Stourbridge town hall for residents forced to flee.
Fire officers warned that hot, dry conditions are increasing the risk of outdoor fires across the region and urged the public to do whatever they can to stay safe and minimise the danger.
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Source: ITV News Central and The Independent, reporting on the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service major incident. Read the original coverage here.
Source: Original report. Rewrite for Your News Website.
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