Shop front partially destroyed as more than 50 firefighters tackle major blaze in Birmingham
A fire in Sparkhill, Birmingham, is “under control” after a blaze broke out at the front of a retail shop, West Midlands Fire Service said.
Crews were called to Stratford Road in the early hours of this morning (Monday 23 December).
In a statement, the fire service said: “Shortly before 4.55am today, we responded to Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham. Ten fire engines, two 4×4 brigade response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform responded, crewed by around 55 firefighters.
“This was a fire at the front of a retail shop, which spread to shop signage and the bay windows of flats above the shop. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the shop and flats to search for casualties.
The fire service continued: “Five people from the flats had left their properties and received checks from attending paramedics. There were no casualties or injuries and everyone has been accounted for.
“Firefighters have made good progress at the scene and the fire is under control. The hydraulic aerial platform remains in use as crews work to prevent fire spread. Two fire engines remain at the scene.
“Police colleagues are in attendance. Stratford Road is closed in both directions from Formans Road to Nansen Road.
The fire appears to have been caused by a car which was set alight and rammed into a supermarket, according to a witness.
Local property developer Isaac Zintaan said he was alerted to the fire by residents of his nearby premises after they told him they heard a “loud explosion”.
“I have a business close by… the residents of my premises heard a loud explosion – ‘like a bomb went off’ that’s what they described,” the 28-year-old from Sparkhill said.
“(When I arrived) everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke.”
Mr Zintaan said it appeared a car had rammed the supermarket on the ground floor of the building and footage taken by him showed a Land Rover on fire with its rear to the property – as if having reversed into it.
Fire investigators are now at the scene, and are working alongside crews to work out what happened.
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