Prime Minister Andy Burnham urges the public to take a wildfire emergency alert "seriously", after it was sent to millions in England and Wales
The alert warns against "any activity that could start a fire", saying there is a "very high risk of wildfires nationally" - see the full message
This is the biggest use yet of the emergency alert system, writes Chris Mason, as the first secretary of state says the choice to use it "reflects the seriousness with which the government is acting"
It comes after nineteen houses have been "fully destroyed" in Stourbridge as crews continue to tackle multiple blazes in the West Midlands
On a visit to Stourbridge earlier, the PM warned the country is like a "tinderbox" - fires have also been tackled in other parts of England and Wales
Earlier, the fire service said the situation has "vastly improved" in the West Midlands - but people have been returning to destroyed homes. Michael in Pershore describes flames spreading from tree-to-tree
The government will commission firefighting planes in order to tackle future wildfires, Burnham says.
“That obviously wasn’t available [in Stourbridge], but it will be available elsewhere, and it would have made a difference,” the prime minister added.
The Chancellor John Healey would be working to prepare emergency financial support for fire and rescue services, Andy Burnham said, to help them with an unprecedented level of demand.
The prime minister added to reporters at the scene in Stourbridge that he also wanted to make sure insurance companies were providing quick support to people affected by the recent fires.
For councils, there was also support to help them with the costs of responding to incidents, he said.
Image source, Reuters
Isabella Boneham
Four firefighters were taken to hospital with heatstroke and stress while crews were going “above and beyond” to tackle fires, Warwickshire Fire Brigades Union said.
A blaze that erupted on Tothall Lane in Salford Prior, south Warwickshire on Thursday, temporarily closed the A46 but had since been brought under control.
Neil Stuart, the union’s secretary, said that its members have “really stepped up to the mark” with people cancelling leave, and those meant to be off work have come back in to help operate different fire engines.
The prime minister said he wanted to reassure residents that he would do "everything he can" to support them, as he praised the emergency services for their work in recent days.
Speaking to reporters in Stourbridge, Andy Burnham said they were tackling 37 across the country, including four major incidents with the military sending 100 personnel to south Wales.
Meanwhile, fire and rescue services across the UK were supporting one another and the prime minister said aerial firefighting support had also been deployed nationally.
Chloe Hughes
West Midlands
As he continued to speak to reporters at the scene in Stourbridge, the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said building resilience against fires like the ones in the West Midlands should not be put off.
"We have a fire and rescue service across the country that isn't properly set up to deal with these incidents," he said. "We don't have the capability in the way that we should have to fight these fires.
"There's thousands of firefighters out there today doing back-breaking work, in full kit, in the most difficult conditions.
"I think it's incumbent on me to come away from this and give them all the extra resource they need to make this more bearable."
The prime minister also brought up the fact that other countries have aerial resources for fires, like planes, which was something that needed to be considered.
Image source, Peter Byrne/ReutersA man has been arrested on suspicion of arson to endanger life after a fire in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
The fire broke out on Hillmeads Road shortly after 15:00 BST on Thursday, and a number of homes were evacuated because of it.
West Midlands Police said there were no reports of anyone being injured but damage had been caused to some houses.
The 55-year-old man remains in custody.
"I've never seen scenes like this anywhere in Britain," Andy Burnham told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The prime minister described the situation as "devastating" for those affected as he visited the community.
"It's quite an eerie sight to walk past a home that would've been kind of a family hub just yesterday, now completely gutted by fire," he added.
Burnham said he had met a family whose home had been destroyed and added he had come to Stourbridge as he wanted to be "on the ground" to show support.
Image source, PA
Phil Mackie
in Stourbridge
The prime minister, on a visit to Stourbridge, said the country was a “tinderbox right now”, adding that this weekend could be a really difficult one.
Andy Burnham said a Cobra meeting had been held and promised more help to emergency services. The emergency committee, which involves ministers and officials, meets to co-ordinate the government's response to an emerging situation.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, he also said insurance companies have been spoken to about speeding up claims.
Image source, PA MediaChloe Hughes
West Midlands
A temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues has been issued by the government.
The single-use grills “have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months”, advice published online by the government said.
“Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had suggested earlier in the week that such a measure could be introduced.
As fire crews battle these many fires on one of the hottest weeks of the year, we have just heard that the current amber heat alert, already in place across several regions including the West Midlands, has been extended.
The UK Health Security Agency says it will remain in place until 10:00 BST tomorrow.
They have urged people to read their advice for staying safe in the hot weather, external.
Chloe Hughes
West Midlands
More photos are coming in from Stourbridge where several homes have been completely destroyed.
These images show family homes completely gutted and unrecognisable, as well as residents walking away with bags of possessions.
Image source, Temilade Adelaja/Reuters
Image source, Jacob King/PA
Image source, Jacob King/PA
Image source, Temilade Adelaja/ReutersDet Insp Emma Kempson, of Staffordshire Police, said the investigation into the Goldenfill fire was "continuing at pace" and had culminated in today's arrests.
She said the nearby Goldenhill Community Centre had been set up to provide support for people affected by the blaze but the hub was now being moved to the area's working men's club.
“We’ve still got a number of officers in the area today," she added.
"I can assure the local community we are actively working to investigate this surge in recent fires across Staffordshire.”
Two people have been arrested in connection with the fire in Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent.
A 23-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, both from the city, were detained on Friday morning and were being held on suspicion of arson, Staffordshire Police confirmed.
Fire crews have scaled back their presence at the fire at Salford Priors, Warwickshire.
A major incident was declared after the blaze broke out on Tothall Lane during Thursday afternoon. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service withdrew the declaration at about 21:00 BST as the fire was brought under control.
In an update today, the service said one crew remained at the scene to monitor and dampen down any hot spots.
Members of a Stourbridge horse riding school have detailed the "really scary" moment their legs were burning as they tried to save as many as eight horses.
Abbie Harvey, from The Sugarloaf Equestrian Centre, said she ran towards the horses after witnessing Norton Road be "engulfed" by flames.
"I dumped my car and pegged it across the road, and we managed to get [the horses]," she said.
"By the time the horse box came the fire was behind us and my legs were burning - that's how close it was.We were being engulfed in smoke, ash was coming over and it was really scary."
Image source, Abbie HarveyThe girls were then asked to help evacuate residents before they went on to save five more horses from another nearby field.
"So we're running around the cul-de-sacs, we're running around the houses and getting everyone out," Harvey said.
Three homes were also affected in Coventry on Thursday, with fire spreading to a row of terraced gardens, and two people were taken to hospital, the fire service said.
About 25 firefighters were called to Yelverton Road and Rollason Road shortly after 13:40 on Thursday.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceWest Midlands Fire Service has said it is continuing to extinguish hot spots across open grassland, along the railway embankment and in gardens.
In an update, they said their resources were split across:
Image source, WMFSA spokesperson said: "Our priorities remain the same: To damp down affected areas, extinguish hot spots and prevent further fire spread.
"Thank you to everyone who has donated food, drinks and other resources to emergency services staff at the scene.
"We are now at capacity. Please don’t travel to the area to make donations, and please, continue to respect any police cordons while we work at this incident."
Chloe Hughes
West Midlands
Image source, Jacob King/PAAt the moment, it seems like fires around the region are non-stop, but why does an area like the West Midlands seem to be suffering so much?
That, says Dr Kerryn Little - a postdoctoral wildfire researcher at the University of Birmingham - is because there are lots of places where vegetation and urban areas, full of people, meet.
Combined with the hot weather, vegetation is dry and "ready to burn".
"There's a high amount of people moving around, resulting in ignitions," she said.
"When that meets with large areas of continuous vegetation that is built up, that can lead to wildfires."
She said that in the UK, wildfires were "overwhelmingly" caused by human ignitions, most of them unintentional.
"There are about 30,000 each year, overwhelmingly, more than 99% are caused by humans."
Little said one of the "major risks" in the region was disposable barbecues - something behind several large fires recently including one at Cannock Chase which destroyed a football pitch-sized area of protected heath-land.
There have also been a spate of intentional fires across the region in recent weeks, with fire bosses repeatedly sharing messaging about the far-reaching consequences to try and deter people.
Fire crews have continued to work in and around Sandy Road in Stoke-on-Trent today.
Earlier, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said six crew members were taken to hospital as a result of the smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
Several homes had to be evacuated and the nearby Goldenhill Community Centre has opened its doors for residents who need support.
Jordan Kenny
BBC Newsbeat presenter
Izzy (left) and Abbie say they only just managed to save their horse
We've just spoken to Izzy Williams and Abbie Harvey who have returned to the police cordon at the Stourbridge fire this morning.
They're from nearby Sugarloaf Equestrian Centre which is very close to where the fires started on Thursday afternoon.
Abbie, 28, says they rushed to check on the horses after seeing the smoke "but the flames were on the road".
"The field was already on fire with the horses in," she says.
"We managed to get three of them out but at one point on Racecourse Lane where the fire was, we were trapped, the top of the road where the golf course is was on fire, the house at the bottom of the road was on fire."
She says the fire was behind them as they tried to get the horses to safety and "you could feel it burning our legs".
Izzy, 20, says it feels surreal that this has happened to them and "being in that situation is awful".
"I am so proud of the team that we got there and stayed calm and got it all sorted, but it was horrendous," she says.