Fire crews battle woodland blaze in 30C heat
Fire crews from across the region have been fighting a grass fire in woodland near Stourbridge.
Crews from Kinver, Wombourne and Brewood have been battling the blaze at Million Wood on Chester Road near Enville.
Crews were alerted to the fire around 3.06pm after it started in a heavily wooded area near the Staffordshire village on one of the hottest days of the year.
Five fire engines and 25 firefighters were sent to help get the fire under control after three and a half hectares of linden trees were caught up in the flames.
A full fire break was put in place by the landowner with a tractor and water carriers from Cannock, a wildfire vehicle from Rugeley and relief crews from Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter on hand to help.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We were alerted to the reports of a grass fire at Million Wood on Chester Road near Enville at 15.06.
"The blaze is what we call a secondary fire and is quite substantial and we've got what we call an eight pumps fire, with five crews assigned to the scene.
"We've also got specialist vehicles on the scene, such as a water carrier from Cannock and an off-road vehicle from Cannock University.
"The fire involves three and a half hectares of linden trees, which we are fighting with hose reels and we also have a full fire break put in place by the landowner and tractor.
"Good progress is being made with the fire, with 25 people on site at any one time, including crew from Kinver and Wombourne, a ranger from Brewood, a wildfire vehicle from Rugeley and relief crews from Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter.
"Crews are still fighting the fire and the situation is ongoing, so we urge drivers to avoid the area at all costs."
