Multiple fires are burning across the West Midlands as the UK records its hottest day of the year
In Stourbridge, a large grass fire has spread to several homes and two people have been hurt
A major incident is declared over a large fire in Warwickshire
A woman was seriously injured in a fire which ripped through houses in Castle Vale, Birmingham
A northbound stretch of the M6 has reopened after being shut due to smoke on the carriageway, causing delays of two-and-a-half hours
Fires are also raging in the Sandyford area of Stoke-on-Trent as well as in Pershore, Worcestershire
To keep up-to-date on the fires - as well as following us here on the live page, our colleagues at BBC Radio are running a special programme this evening across the West Midlands.
You can listen live with Daz Hale hosting until 22:00 BST.
Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
Image source, Robert StarrThese are the latest photos from the scene on Hillmeads Road, in Druids Heath.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service says crews are currently responding to "multiple fires across the local area", including incidents at The Dell in Druids Heath and along Hillmeads Road in Kings Norton.
"Crews are on site managing the situations. Emergency services are advising all residents living nearby to keep their windows and doors firmly closed to avoid smoke inhalation," a spokesperson said.
"People are also being asked to avoid both areas where possible to allow emergency vehicles clear access to the scenes."
Image source, Robert StarrThe M6 has now reopened northbound between junctions five and six, although there are delays of about two-and-a-half hours for drivers stuck in that traffic, National Highways said.
Earlier, the organisation said the carriageway would not reopen until the fire commander at the scene was happy the blaze was out.
Multiple fires have been reported across the West Midlands starting with a blaze in Stourbridge.
About 100 firefighters have been tackling a huge grass fire near Stourbridge Golf Course, with flames said by witnesses to be spreading across roads in some places.
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) confirmed six homes were affected by the fire, while two people were injured.
Image source, WMFSElsewhere, homes in Castle Vale, Birmingham, were badly damaged by a fire with one woman reported to have suffered serious injuries, according to WMFS.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to a "large fire" at Tothall Lane, Salford Priors, near Alcester.
People have been told to avoid the area, as well as keep doors and windows shut.
There has also been a fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent.
A small number of homes have been evacuated from the Sandy Road, according Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.
In Worcestershire, at 16:30 police and fire crews were called to Three Springs Road, Pershore.
Hereford and Worcester Fire Service said eight fire engines were sent to the scene where one eyewitness estimated as many as six homes could be affected.
Image source, James Lees
One local resident in Stoke-on-Trent says it was "quite worrying" seeing the smoke.
He that people didn't know where it might spread to, which was another concern.
Another says members of the community have turned out to help extinguish the blaze.
"We've been trying to help a bit where we can, with hosepipes and buckets of water and stuff. It's been a team effort really."
He added that he noticed "plumes and plumes of smoke" when he looked out of his window, and that he felt sorry for those living closer to the blaze.
Image source, James LeesPershore resident James Lees said the fire had been the worst he had seen in the 10 years he had lived there.
"I saw a lot of smoke and before the fire service arrived there was a fire in what looked like somebody's back garden," he said.
"Other people have said it was a shed.
"All of a sudden a big puff of smoke came from a house, probably about four doors down from where it originally began.
"It was big black billowing smoke and then it has kind of just spread across the houses like a domino effect.
"Now there's probably about five or six houses that are just covered in smoke - you can see flames at the front and out at the back.
"It's quite a serious situation. It's not nice to see and I feel really sorry for the people who are affected."
Watch: fire in Stourbridge
Dave Edwards, whose home backs on to Norton Covert, in Stourbridge, says he was told to prepare to leave as the fire spread.
Residents of the covert were told to wet their fences and prepare to evacuate, as the community came together to try and "muck in", including giving drinks to the fire crews.
Edwards said police helicopters had been flying overhead and firefighters seemed concerned as the flames spread.
"It looks like it's largely under control now," he said. "The firefighters have been fantastic."
A fire next to the M6, keeps on reigniting, National Highways has said.
The northbound carriageway remains closed between junctions four and five due to smoke billowing on the motorway.
Delays in the area are now running at two hours, National Highways said, with five miles of tailbacks.
It said the fire Commander at the scene was not happy for the carriageway to be reopened until the fire was fully extinguished.
Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
I’m on Tangmere Drive in Castle Vale, where two bungalows appear to have been almost completely gutted by fire, with a third sustaining damage.
I could smell what smelt like charred wood in the air as I approached the scene - part of a roof has caved in leaving blackened timbers exposed to the sky and tiles have collapsed inwards. Window frames and doors below seem to be burnt through.
A police cordon is up and a police van is parked outside. National Grid and Cadent officers are here too alongside police and a final fire van.
One woman living nearby, who didn’t want to be named, told me it was terrible and that she had never seen anything like it.We still don’t know what caused the fire here. WMFS says it started in one bungalow and spread to two neighbouring properties."
Hereford and Worcester Fire Service said it was called to Three Springs Road, Pershore at about 16:15 BST.
A service spokesperson said eight fire engines had been deployed to the scene.
They also said residents living nearby had been asked to keep windows and doors shut.
Image source, St Michael’s Church Norton / FacebookWe are being told of a "huge community effort" in Stourbridge.
This includes a window cleaner who has turned up, offering to help extinguish small fires with the water he carries for his job.
St Michael’s Church Norton has also offered support to people affected by the fire who are in need of a safe space.
They have asked people to send them a private message so they can arrange for the building to be opened.
A small number of homes have been evacuated from the Sandy Road area of Goldenhill in Stoke-on-Trent, according to the fire service.
"Further evacuations may take place in due course," the fire service added.
"People are urged to avoid the area and close their windows and doors as a precaution."
Image source, Courtney HarperWe've just been sent these photos of another fire, this time in the Druids Heath area of Birmingham.
Nearby resident Courtney Harper, who took the photos from a flat overlooking the area, tells the BBC it looks like it has broken out on land near Manningford Road and Pennyacre Road.
West Midlands Fire Service has been contacted for confirmation.
Image source, Courtney Harper
Image source, Courtney HarperThe M6 northbound remains closed near Birmingham, between junctions five and six, due to a fire.
National Highways said thick smoke was billowing across the carriageway.
It said there were currently delays of 90 minutes, with congestion backing up to junction four.
The southbound carriageway remains open at the moment, but reduced speeds are in place.
Image source, Max BeckerlegMax Beckerleg, an eyewitness at the Stourbridge fire, said he could see smoke "from miles away".
"Police have cordoned off the area around but the whole area is covered in a thick layer of smoke," he said.
"I watched as the woodlands went up in flames on the golf course while we tried to beat it out with leaves and sticks to prevent it spreading further up to the golf club.
"A member at the golf club was cornered in by the fast-moving fire before he was evacuated by other members in golf buggies."
Image source, WFMSStourbridge Town Hall has been opened as a rest centre for people who have left their homes because of the fire.
Transport is also being arranged for anyone who cannot make their own way there.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was facing "extreme levels of demand".
"Wherever you are in the West Midlands, please do whatever you can to stay safe and minimise the risk of outdoor fires," it said. "Please don’t head to areas where fires are taking place to watch."
People directly affected by a fire are being told not to try to tackle it themselves, but to get somewhere safe and call 999.
Image source, James LeesWest Mercia Police has confirmed it is supporting fire crews at fire in Worcestershire after officers were called to Three Springs Road, Pershore at about 16:30 BST.
The force said it could not confirm the cause of the blaze but asked people to stay away from the area.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has also been contacted for information.
Michael Morgan said he saw the fire spreading rapidly as he drove along Norton Road, in Stourbridge, this afternoon.
He said he stopped to call the fire service because he could not initially see any firefighters at the scene.
His call was answered by the London Fire Brigade, which he believes was due to the high volume of calls being made to emergency services.
"When the fire brigade finally came, the whole lot was just engulfed in flames, including the fire truck," he said. "The flames just came straight through the bushes and covered the fire truck in flames. It just engulfed it."
We are also hearing about a fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent.
BBC reporter Alex Frost is at the scene and says it is in the an area off James Brindley Way.
People are gathered on the street, and there is a cordon, with police clearing the street.
Image source, Jordan Andrew CardWarwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has declared a major incident due to a "large fire" at Tothall Lane, Salford Priors, near Alcester.
A spokesperson said: "There is a large emergency presence in the area and we continue to advise residents nearby to close all doors and windows.
"Please stay away from the area to allow emergency services immediate access and if you live by close all doors and windows."
