A fire chief has paid tribute to crews and communities following an "unprecedented" wildfire crisis.
Simon Tuhill, chief fire officer and chief executive of West Midlands Fire Service, described the events of Thursday, August 13, as a day that would "stay with me, and with all of us here at West Midlands Fire Service, for a long time."
The service came under "exceptional pressure" during last week’s extreme heat, with control room teams handling thousands of 999 calls as multiple major incidents broke out across the region.
Among the most serious was a large blaze in Stourbridge, one of several fires burning simultaneously across the West Midlands.
Mr Tuhill said: "I want this letter to be a thank you.
"Special thanks to our firefighters who moved from incident to incident in extreme heat, often while exhausted.
"To our control room staff who continued to answer calls and coordinate resources during the crisis.
"To the many behind-the-scenes teams who maintained vehicles and equipment, managed welfare and logistics, supported families, and handled a surge of enquiries while much of the organisation focused on frontline operations."
Mr Tuhill also acknowledged the vital role of partner organisations, including West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, neighbouring fire services, local councils, utility companies, Network Rail, and the British Red Cross.
He praised farmers who used their own equipment to create firebreaks and protect property, as well as MPs who helped raise awareness of the challenges facing emergency services.
Residents were thanked for heeding safety advice, staying clear of cordons, and supporting crews working in difficult conditions.
Mr Tuhill said: "What you did has been seen, and it is valued."
He recognised the deep impact on affected communities, describing the fires as "frightening and heartbreaking."
While statistics such as the number of incidents and resources deployed were important, Mr Tuhill said they did not convey the human toll on firefighters, control room operators, and residents caught up in the emergency.
The fire service will now undertake a comprehensive debrief with staff and partner organisations to identify lessons from the response.
Mr Tuhill said: "Thank you for Thursday 13 August 2026, and for everything that came before and since."
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