Hope that rain may aid crews tackling blaze

Heavy spells of much-needed rain could aid firefighters who are continuing to battle heathland fires burning across the UK, forecasters said today.

Six crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were today still tackling a forest blaze near Stourbridge which could cause 100ft trees to collapse as flames lick around their roots — and the crews today said that last's night rain has had little effect so far.

Officers say they will not be able to establish the cause of the blaze at Million Wood, off Mill Lane, near Stourbridge at Stourton, between Enville and Kinver until the flames, which are now in their fifth day, are put out.

The remote location of the wood, away from an obvious source of ignition, has led investigators to suspect that it may have been started deliberately.

A fire officer went up in a police helicopter last night with a thermal imaging camera to detect the most serious hot spots.