Mike Wood MP praises firefighters in wake of Stourbridge fires
They've been tackling them since yesterday
Last updated 14th Aug 2026
A local MP has today praised the bravery of local firefighters, tackling a huge wildfire near Stourbridge.
Firefighters from across the West Midlands were called to large wildfires on Thursday 13th August, which it is thought originated from several locations of grassland, near Stourbridge Golf Course. The fires have caused widespread destruction, with residents evacuated from the area, damage to local railway lines and several homes destroyed by the flames.
It is understood fire crews from Kinver, Wombourne, and Codsall & Bilbrook Fire Stations were dispatched to fight the blaze, which had spread from Stourbridge into Mr Wood’s neighbouring constituency of Kingswinford & South Staffordshire, by Thursday evening.
Mike Wood MP, who is from Stourbridge, said: “Following the devastating fires near my hometown of Stourbridge, the professionalism and courage of our local firefighters responding to such a significant incident deserve our deepest thanks and recognition.
"Fire crews from West Midlands Fire Service and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, including to my knowledge, those from Wombourne, Kinver, Codsall and Bilbrook, were faced with exceptionally challenging conditions on the hottest day of the year so far.
"Thank you again to all of our full time, on call and volunteer firefighters from across Kingswinford & South Staffordshire and beyond. The sheer scale of the devastation caused by the fire is heartbreaking, and my thoughts remain with everyone affected, especially those who have been hospitalised and those who have lost their homes.”
Mr Wood also reiterated his commitment to working with local emergency services, adding that those responsible must be brought to justice, if the fire is found to have been started deliberately:
“Over the coming weeks, I will continue my work with local emergency services to understand how we can best tackle this unprecedented risk of fire to our communities. Of course, if this was a deliberate act, those responsible must be brought to justice.”
It is understood that Staffordshire Fire & Rescue responded to at least four further wildfires across Staffordshire on Thursday 13th August 2026, with simultaneous fires burning in Parkhall, Stoke-on-Trent; Cannock Chase, Tamworth and a major incident declared in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent.