A LABOUR minister has failed to mention climate change when responding to the "apocalyptic" blazes in the West Midlands which led to multiple homes being evacuated and ash "raining" down on people.
Fire crews are making progress tackling the huge fires in Stourbridge, which forced people to flee after it started tearing through homes on Thursday.
Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill, of West Midlands Fire Service, said the blazes had left “extensive” devastation – adding that it was “one of the most significant” incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with.
More than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene, with emergency services likely to remain present for a number of days.
A total of 54 patients have been treated by paramedics, including 19 who were taken to hospital, the region's ambulance service said on Friday morning.
Local residents reported ash "raining from the sky", while local councillor Andrew Tromans said there were "apocalyptic scenes" in the area as the wildfires blazed.
He added: “It is my view, and it has been for a while, that Dudley councillors must have an emergency meeting about we protect our borough from the impacts of climate change.”
Yet women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson did not mention climate change in her assessment of the situation, instead describing the fires as a consequence of "extreme heat".
In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Friday, she said: "This is a really troubling situation that we're seeing, both the extremes of heat that we're increasingly seeing in the summer, but also the extremes of cold that we're seeing in the winter.
"I think it demonstrates beyond doubt that these kinds of weather patterns and the impact it will have, they're here to stay, and we are going to have to do more as a country and as a society to confront this, to recognise it, and to take action."
In the interview, which spanned around seven minutes, the words "climate change" were not mentioned once.
Similarly, Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not refer to climate change in his statement on the fires.
Taking to social media, he said: “Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues.
“My thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have been injured or forced from their homes, and with the firefighters who have been taken to hospital.
“I’m in touch with local leaders (including West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker) and will be speaking to emergency services on the ground as they continue their response.
“Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe. A huge thank you to them and everyone supporting the effort tonight.”
