Fourteen West Midlands fire stations face reduced cover under proposed plans

Fourteen fire stations across the West Midlands could be affected by proposed cuts to front-line fire cover.

The proposals include closing and relocating Ward End Fire Station in Birmingham, removing night-time cover at Bloxwich, Willenhall and Kings Norton, and reducing the overnight availability of second fire engines at up to 11 other stations.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) warned that the changes could harm public safety and questioned whether sufficient operational modelling had been provided to assess the impact on emergency response times.

However, West Midlands Fire Service said no decisions had been made and changes were needed to reprioritise cover.

The union general secretary Steve Wright said the region had experienced wildfires and major incidents during the summer of 2026, including the fire in Stourbridge which led to the loss of 19 homes.

He said: “When people dial 999, they expect a fire engine to arrive quickly, not to be told their local station has been downgraded or closed.

“These proposals would put our members under greater pressure, leave fire crews covering larger areas with fewer resources, and put the public at risk.”

The changes could affect communities across Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Paula Fenton lost her home and her late husband’s ashes in an August fire on Stonehouse Avenue that also destroyed two neighbouring bungalows. Crews were unable to reach the bungalows for more than an hour and a half.

She has spoken out against proposals to remove overnight cover at Willenhall Fire Station.