Burnham Links 19 Homes Destroyed in Stourbridge Fire to Climate Change, Pushes Clean Energy
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 14
Burnham Links 19 Homes Destroyed in Stourbridge Fire to Climate Change, Pushes Clean Energy
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 14
Summary
Nineteen houses were destroyed and 18 damaged in Stourbridge, where Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the wildfire showed Britain must “face up” to climate change and speed its clean-energy shift.
Thursday’s blaze erupted on the UK’s hottest day of the year so far, with tinder-dry conditions, drought across much of England and some deliberately set grass fires helping flames spread into homes.
Thirty-seven blazes were burning around Britain on Friday, and Burnham announced a ban on disposable barbecue sales, a summit with fire services and plans to commission firefighting planes.
In the West Midlands, ambulance crews treated 68 people for smoke inhalation and related symptoms on Thursday, hospitalising 25; one firefighter in Stourbridge and six in Staffordshire were also taken to hospital.
Fire chiefs said wildfire risk is rising faster than response capacity, warning that climate change, extreme heat and changing land use are making fires more frequent, larger and more complex.