LIVELast updated 12th August 2026

Live updates as A50 shut and homes evacuated as crews at huge Stoke-on-Trent blaze

This just in

The A50 westbound has been shut(Image: StokeSentinel)

Dave Knapper West Midlands Content Editor

A stretch of the A50 is closed this evening due to 'fire services activity'. The ongoing incident has resulted in the westbound carriageway being shut off between the turning for the bet365 Stadium and Sideway.

One motorist got in touch with The Sentinel to say they had spotted 'a fire in the trees'. Traffic monitoring system Inrix issued an alert at 5.30pm confirming the westbound closure.

It states: "A50 Westbound closed, queueing traffic due to fire services activity from B5490 Stanley Matthews Way (Stadium Junction) to A500 D Road ( Sideway Roundabout)."

We have contacted Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for a statement on tonight's ongoing incident.

Further updates will appear in our dedicated blog below.

New Updates

Key Events

Residents from Kemball Avenue and Nutbrook Avenue able to return to their h

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Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirm TWO fires by A50

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Police plane deployed

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12th Aug21:53 BST

A50 back open

The A50 is now back open.

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug21:16 BST

More images from Nutbrook Avenue - before and after

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The fire off Nutbrook Avenue

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A destroyed fence in Nutbrook Avenue

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug20:18 BST

Residents from Kemball Avenue and Nutbrook Avenue able to return to their homes

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Residents of Kemball Avenue and nearby properties in the Nutbrook Avenue area of Stoke-on-Trent, who were briefly evacuated from their homes while fire crews attended a small number of grass fires, can now safely return to their properties.

"Three crews remain in the area dampening down hotspots. Thank you for your patience and understanding at this time."

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug20:17 BST

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirm TWO fires by A50

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has revealed how it was called two fires by the A50. The alarm was first raised at 4.50pm regarding a fire in trees near dual-carriageway 'in the direction of Stanley Matthews Way'. That saw three engines scrambled.

Then at 5.30pm the alarm was raised at nearby Kemball Avenue to reports of the grass fire that has seen homes evacuated. A spokesperson added: "Six crews are currently in attendance responding to a number of garden and garage fires.

"Nearby residents are urged to follow the guidance from firefighters at the scene. "

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug19:32 BST

More images from the scene

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Smoke from the Heron Cross fire

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug19:26 BST

Police plane deployed

The National Police Air Service plane is out over Heron Cross. Flight tracking software has it 'circling' over the scene of the ongoing blaze.

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Police plane out over Heron Cross

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug19:22 BST

Watch: Flames near homes in Heron Cross

(Video: Jacob Spender)

The fire rages in Heron Cross near the A50 (Video: Jacob Spender)

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug19:18 BST

Flames near homes in Heron Cross

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Flames can be seen from fields near the A50 and Nutbrook Avenue in Mount Pleasant (Photo: Jacob Spender)

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug19:18 BST

Homes evacuated

Some breaking news with this incident. Homes on nearby Nutrbook Avenue have this evening been evacuated - due to the fire on fields between the houses and the A50.

Resident Chris Spender told The Sentinel how a number of families on the road - including himself - have this evening been evacuated. The 50-year-old said: "It's been going on for the last hour. It looks like it started in the corner of the field near Nutbrook Avenue.

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Police and firefighters on Nutbrook Avenue (Photo: Jacob Spender)

"The fire seems to have spread and come quite close to the houses. I have been told that possibly some fences and sheds have been affected.

"There must be about six fire engines in total and probably seven or eight police cars. You could see the flames and officers have come and asked us to leave our homes while they deal with it."

Full story here.

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug18:29 BST

Longton busy

It would appear a lot of motorists are getting off at Longton. The Strand is busy, as is King Street.

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Dave Knapper

12th Aug18:23 BST

Closure causing lots of delays

Unsurprisingly the closure is affecting a number of nearby roads as motorists are diverted. The following are very busy:

Sir Stanley Matthews Way from the stadium to Hem Heath;
Trentham Road, Trentham;
Blurton Road, Blurton;
Stone Road, Trentham.

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Dave Knapper

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