Wildfire destroys 19 homes as disposable barbecues banned in “tinderbox” Britain

A wildfire ripped through Stourbridge, destroying 19 homes and damaging 18 more, with one firefighter treated in hospital and several others suffering minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. Fire crews responded to multiple major blazes across the West Midlands as the flames swept over more than 500 acres. During the crisis, the prime minister urged people not to light open fires and announced a temporary ban on disposable barbecues across the UK nations most at risk.