Several large fires swept through parts of the West Midlands on Thursday, the UK’s hottest day of the year, damaging homes and forcing emergency services into a major response, according to the Guardian.

One of the most significant blazes was a grassfire covering about 16 hectares (40 acres) near a golf course in Stourbridge. The fire was among several affecting the region as firefighters worked to contain the flames spreading through residential neighbourhoods.

Initial reports said four people had been taken to hospital and several homes had been damaged. By Friday, the Guardian reported that 19 people had been taken to hospital following the Stourbridge fire, with a total of 54 people treated by paramedics.

The fires came amid an extended spell of dry weather. The Environment Agency said England had received just 4mm of rain so far in August, or 6% of the long-term average for the month, as reported by PA. That follows the driest July on record for the country, when only 7mm of rain fell, about 10% of the average.

The West Midlands blazes came as fires continued across parts of Europe amid extreme heat. In Croatia, thousands of people were evacuated as blazes spread, according to the Guardian’s live coverage.

The combination of low rainfall and extreme heat has left dry vegetation vulnerable to fast-moving grassfires, particularly where homes sit close to open land.