Watch: 'Deliberate' fire rips through Pelsall North Common leaving ground scorched
Footage captured by the Express & Star shows the vast amount of land that was left devastated by the blaze.
Six fire crews battled a deliberate fire on Pelsall North Common on Thursday evening.
The grass fire, off Wood Lane in Pelsall, Walsall, broke out at around 6.30pm, with people warned to avoid the area.
Footage captured by the Express & Star shows the huge amount of land that was left devastated by the blaze.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said on Friday afternoon the fire was still being “carefully managed”.
“At around 5.15pm on Thursday, West Midlands Fire Service received a number of calls reporting of a wildfire at Pelsall Common. Numerous crews attended the incident, with the call for more resources as the incident progressed.
“The wildfire, covering approximately two areas of 100m by 100m and 200m by 200m, is being carefully managed by our firefighters, with several seats of fire and hotspots across the area.
“Crews are still in attendance and may be for some time. Sadly, this is among a number of recent incidents where the fire has been set deliberately.”
Area Commander Steve Ball previously said: “It’s hugely frustrating that, in a busy period where our crews are responding to threats to life from accidental fires, there were more than a couple deliberately set fires, including in grasslands.
“These can rapidly spread and develop into serious incidents that we still have to deal with, which could prevent us reaching someone’s loved ones whose life is in danger from a fire.
“Deliberately set fires come with consequences not just for the wildlife, vegetation and communities near where they’re set. Those who start them could get a criminal record, which could prevent you from travelling or getting certain jobs in the future, and destroy an area where you live.
“It’s not worth the risk, the damage or your future.”
It follows a series of other blazes in parklands and open spaces across the region.
The West Midlands has officially been declared as in drought.
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