Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control took more 160 calls between 6pm and midnight on Bonfire Night (Sun 5 Nov 2023).
In the West Midlands, they mobilised fire crews to some 130 incidents, of which around 40 related to bonfires or fireworks.
Many of the incidents turned out to be false alarms. Concerned 999 callers did the right thing but, when our crews arrived, they were satisfied that the bonfires were being managed responsibly.
In some cases, however, firefighters did extinguish bonfires that posed a risk over the weekend.
In West Bromwich, two fire crews doused a large fire that had been built in some woodland, using about three tonnes of wood and timber.
They also put out a fire in Bordesley, which involved large amounts of building material, wooden panels and fencing.
On Sunday night, two crews responded to a house in Willenhall, Walsall where a firework put through the letterbox had filled the property with smoke. No-one inside was hurt.
We also responded to two residential blocks, where fireworks had been let off in communal areas. Very fortunately, no fires resulted but there was smoke logging.
In Hamstead, Birmingham someone smashed a car window and threw a firework inside. Water was needed to dampen down the vehicle interior.
