Thousands of 999 calls as 'apocalyptic' fires rip through West Midlands

The Prime Minister is being kept informed of developments23:05, 13 Aug 2026Thousands of 999 calls reporting widespread fires in the West Midlands have been made today (August 13) on what has been the UK’s hottest day of the year, a fire chief has said.‌Two people were injured earlier after a fire ripped through home in Birmingham today, with a host of other blazes reported in the region, including a severe fire in Stourbridge.‌Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill, of West Midlands Fire Service, said the Prime Minister has been kept updated on developments across the region, the Press Association reported.‌Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily NewsletterHe said one huge blaze in Stourbridge, which forced some people to flee after it started tearing through hom