THIS is the horrifying moment a family’s ring doorbell captured their home being engulfed by an inferno that ripped through Stourbridge.
A total of 19 homes were completely destroyed and 18 others damaged as families forced to evacuate as the fire spread across Stourbridge, West Midlands, on Thursday afternoon.
Horror doorbell cam footage shows moment a family’s home was engulfed by the inferno in Stourbridge on Thursday Credit: ITV
The camera was soon obscured by thick smoke Credit: ITV
Now, footage captured by one heartbroken family has revealed the extent of the devastation.
Richard and Rose-Anne Vinten only moved in five months ago but their home is one of dozens destroyed or damaged by the wildfire.
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Shocking video released by the couple showed their garden catching alight with just a few flames.
But moments later an inferno was in full force as their house was engulfed by the blaze.
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Richard and Rose-Anne Vinten only moved in five months ago Credit: ITV
It comes after a number of major blazes with fire chiefs announcing 11 major incidents in the West Midlands alone in the past 24 hours Credit: Alamy
The raging fire continued to consume all in its path as it decimated the surrounding area and other houses.
As the horrifying video came to an end, thick black smoke had completely obscured the camera.
Speaking to ITV Rose-Anne added: “It was really scary to be honest, it felt like I was in a movie”.
“I was really scared but I knew at the same time I needed to be brave for my kids, because my daughter was really worried.
“When I went over to next door and saw them just standing there at the window, looking and they could see that their house was on fire, so I had to just hold it all in.”
West Midlands Fire Service chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said the fire spread over more than 500 acres in Stourbridge.
He confirmed 19 properties were gutted, with drone footage showing homes completely destroyed and covered in ash.
Horrifying aerial footage shows the blaze ripping through a 40-acre residential area, destroying homes and gardens.
Footage shows flames decimating houses in Stourbridge on Thursday
Several homes were gutted by the wildfire
A rescue centre has been set up for those forced to flee their homes.
Local resident Jane Baxter said she could see the flames from her “bedroom window” and described the “horrendous” choking smell in the air.
She and neighbours were given a few minutes to gather their belongings before fleeing, with the blaze just 200 yards away.
Stourbridge councillor Andrew Tromans said: “The apocalyptic scenes in Norton and across Stourbridge are sadly just a taste of what is to come if we don’t act.
“It is my view, and it has been for a while, that Dudley councillors must have an emergency meeting about [how] we protect our borough from the impacts of climate change.”
Cops are investigating the cause of the Stourbridge inferno, with reports of it starting in a nearby grassland before spreading to homes.
A total of 11 major fire incidents were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council chairman.
The surge in the number of blazes saw millions of Brits receive an emergency alert on their phones warning against the high risk of wildfires on Friday evening.
Residents in Stourbridge were forced to flee their homes on Thursday Credit: LNP
Firefighters work at the site of a burnt-out house Credit: Reuters
The government issued the alert warning people “not to light anything that could spark a fire, including barbecues, campfires, and fireworks” with the country in the middle of another heatwave.
The blaring alert pinged the phones of millions across the nation around 7pm on Friday.
The alert has gone through even if a phone is set to silent, with the sound and vibration lasting about 10 seconds.
Accompanied by a siren sound, it warned that “even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk”.
The alert added: “Recipients will also be urged to report any fire immediately by calling 999.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that the request “came directly from Fire and Rescue Services”.
He urged the public to help “keep everyone safe and prevent more fires from starting”.
