Wolverhampton haulage yard fire being treated as suspicious
A blaze which destroyed lorries after ripping through a haulage yard in Wolverhampton is being treated as 'suspicious', say police.
More than 50 firefighters tackled a massive blaze with residents and businesses urged to keep their windows and doors shut.
Wrecked lorries which had been destroyed by the fierce flames were left at the scene in the aftermath.
Emergency crews were called to the fire at Majors Service Ltd in Hickman Avenue at around 1.45am yesterday after receiving reports of multiple HGVs being on fire.
MORE: See pictures and video showing the fire at its height
West Midlands Police also attended the scene and closed off the road to the Parkside Industrial Estate.
The fire service used three main jets to battle the flames tearing through 16 HGV lorries which had shipping containers attached carrying various different materials.
Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to get above the burning containers and release jets of water on to them.
Several appliances were also placed around the industrial estate to pump water up Hickman Avenue to the fire.
Speaking at the scene, on-site watch commander Paul Clark from Fallings Park said: "We have a fire involving 16 HGV units with shipping containers attached, with various materials inside, including tyres and motorbikes."
Although West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that there were no hazardous materials inside the containers, they were facing difficulties in accessing the burning items to ensure they were fully extinguished.
He added: "It is a difficult incident to tackle at the moment because we've got deep-seated fires within the containers, with limited access to the containers."
Plumes of smoke could still be seen rising from the yard by mid-morning, when the response had been scaled back to six fire engines and one hose pipe still in use above the containers.
The company that has been hit by the fire, Majors Service Ltd, provides road haulage services in and around Wolverhampton.
It is located in the Old Chillington Works, on the industrial estate which is off Willenhall Road.
None of the neighbouring industrial premises were evacuated and there were no injuries reported.
West Midlands Police later confirmed that they have now launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
A spokesman for the force said confirmed it could be arson and appealed for witnesses or anyone with any information to come forward.
"Officers have launched an investigation after the fire service was called to a building during the early hours of Sunday morning," the spokesman said.
"The fire is believed to have been started at Majors Service Limited on Hickman Avenue, in the East Park area of Wolverhampton at around 1.45am.
"The fire is being treated as suspicious and anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101."
The fire attracted a lot of attention on social media.
Tweeting a photo as the continued to battle the blaze through the night, Fallings Park Fire said: "Eight crews currently dealing with a large fire in Wolverhampton, keep your windows closed."
As they brought the flames under control, they tweeted again adding: "Great team work."
