Huge area of Black Country nature reserve devastated by fire - watch the footage

The drone footage shows the devastation caused by the blaze at Rowley Hills, Oldbury.

Drone footage has shown the devastation caused by a huge grassland fire at a Sandwell nature reserve.

West Midlands Fire Service said it sent six engines to the blaze yesterday on Portway Hill in Oldbury, which is part of the Rowley Hills and managed by Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust.

The scene of the huge grass fire on Rowley Hills, Oldbury.
Tim Thursfield/Iconic Media Groupplaceholder image
The scene of the huge grass fire on Rowley Hills, Oldbury. Tim Thursfield/Iconic Media Group | Iconic Media Resell

The A4123 Wolverhampton Road northbound was closed near the fire, with bus services also being diverted.

Drone footage taken by the Express & Star today shows the devastation caused by the fire, which has scorched a huge area of land.

It was one of a number of fires dealt with by fire services in Staffordshire and the West Midlands yesterday.

Other grassland fires took place in Netherton, Wombourne and Hednesford.

Staffordshire and West Midlands fire control took nearly 800 emergency calls between 2pm and 10pm on Wednesday.

Staff said this was an “exceptionally busy” period for both fire control units.

It comes amid prolonged periods of hot weather, with the region officially being declared as in drought earlier this week.

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