80 birds killed in Stourbridge fire
Eighty birds were killed after a fire ripped through a garden shed in Stourbridge.
The canaries and quails could not be saved despite the efforts of their keeper.
The birds were kept in an 18ft shed in the back garden of the property in Bredon Road.
The incident happened at around 3am on Tuesday. It is not known how the fire started.
Thirty of the quails were only two days old.
Retired grandmother Jill Harborne said she was awoken by the sound of a loud bang and could smell smoke.
She and husband Steve rushed into the garden to try and save their beloved birds.
The couple's three ferrets are normally kept in the shed but were moved the day before.
Mrs Harborne, aged 50, said: "I sleep with the window open because of my asthma. I heard this noise outside and I thought it was just Steve in the garden.
"Five minutes later I could smell smoke.
"The outside of the structure was intact but the heat inside was incredible."
Mr Harborne managed to put out the fire but the birds could not be saved.
The couple bred the birds as a hobby and had spent around £3,000 on equipment alone.
They said had been left 'devastated' by the loss of the birds.
Mrs Harborne said she did not believe the fire was started deliberately. She suspects electrical equipment in the shed may have sparked the blaze.
"The garden is alarmed and we've got two dogs. The shed was locked up. If there was anyone around we would know."
