Overview
- The fire started shortly after 7:30am at a factory unit on Sunbeam Street near Upper Villiers Street in Blakenhall.
- West Midlands Fire Service has escalated the response to 21 fire engines with three hydraulic aerial platforms, supported by crews including teams from Staffordshire.
- Thick black smoke has been seen for miles as residents report hearing explosions and experiencing breathing difficulties.
- Authorities have urged people to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed, with Upper Villiers Street shut between Marston Road and Sunbeam Street and St Luke’s Primary School sending pupils home.
- Police and paramedics are assisting at a large cordon and evacuation point on Bromley Street, while the cause and any spread to adjacent buildings remain under investigation.