Road shut as 30 firefighters tackle grassland blaze
Thirty firefighters are tackling a large grass fire on a Sandwell nature reserve, where a nearby road was shut due to concerns about a petrol station.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed it had sent six engines to the blaze on Portway Hill in Oldbury, which is part of the Rowley Hills and managed by Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust.
The service said it had responded after receiving reports from people living nearby, including on Wallace Road and Ivy House Road.
The A4123 Wolverhampton New Road northbound is closed near the fire, with bus services also diverted.
National Express West Midlands said "an incident" had affected services in both directions on the 126 route via Wolverhampton Road and Portway Road.
The number 12 service was also diverted via Birmingham New Road, Lower City Road, Dudley Road East, Brades Road and Rounds Green Road.
Services later returned to normal, the operator posted on X.
Staffordshire and West Midlands firefighters are also at the scene of "a large grass fire" in the Himley Hall/Himley Lane area in Dudley, the service confirmed.
"Thank you to everyone who's called us on 999 to report a large grass fire in the area," it wrote on Facebook.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said its crews were called to land of Beggars Bush Lane at 16:00 BST, and eight pumps were at the scene alongside specialist appliances.
Paul LloydFollow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
