The Bishop of Dudley has told Premier Christian News of the “terrifying” moment he escaped wildfires in Stourbridge, with just two carrier bags of belongings.
Rt Rev Martin Gorick was one of the hundreds of people evacuated last week. He was speaking as he returned to his home, although many others have returned to damaged property and at least 19 homes were destroyed.
He said: “Many people can't return to their homes, because there's no home to return to. It's as stark as that. Some of these [households] have children, they’ve witnessed awful things and they're supposed to be going back to school in two weeks. Please pray for these families.
“For others, their house may still be there, but their garden is destroyed, their cars are destroyed. They’ve got to rebuild from that. Also, you may have your house, but you are surrounded by devastation. That in itself is so distressing.”
Bishop Martin said he was trying to help a neighbour stop sparks setting off another fire, as his wife packed two carrier bags of a change of clothes and precious photos, when the call came to leave the area.
Local churches are among the groups to have opened their doors for refuge and provision of supplies, which the bishop described as showing “real Black Country spirit at its best”.
He said people were stopping him in the street to talk through what had happened, with churches open for prayer and pastoral support.
Bishop Martin added that churches “are here for the long-term”; as media attention turns away “it's really people like us who need to step up and be there for people long term".
He added: “Please give thankful prayers, but considered prayers, to the firefighters, the police who've worked so hard, the emergency services who worked hard to rescue people and care for people. Do pray for them because this is an ongoing situation. Don't think the fires are over. Unbelievably, people are still having barbecues and setting hedges on fire."
He also asked for prayers for clergy providing pastoral support and for those who are out of their homes: “Amongst them, the elderly, the disabled, and children who've been particularly affected.”