Smethwick blaze caused by friction
A huge scrap metal fire at a recycling yard is thought to have been caused by friction between a digger and the metal.
More than 70 firefighters tackled the fire, which started at about 5.30pm and involved around 200 tons of scrap metal.
Thick black smoke soared from the site and across the nearby rail track, suspending Midland Metro and rail services up until 11pm.
Roads surrounding the site were also closed for people's safety and for large hoses taking water from nearby canals to the firefighters.
The fire was put out at about 11pm, but two crews remained at the scene until 10am yesterday to keep a watch on the smouldering metal.
Brierley Hill station commander Mal Fellows said an investigation had found no suspicious circumstances behind the blaze.
He said: "It is being put down to possible friction from a digger which could have ignited the metal and caused the fire."
Five water jets were used to tackle the flames. An hydraulic platform was also used to get to the centre of the blaze.
As crews brought down the flames, mechanical equipment was used to move the burning waste away.
The fire follows the devastating blaze at Jayplas in Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, last year that was caused by a Chinese lantern, resulting in the biggest blaze West Midlands Fire Service had ever dealt with.
John Spellar, MP for Warley, said he would be writing to fire minister Brandon Lewis to seek a limit in the amount of recyclable material that can be kept stored at businesses.
Labour MP Mr Spellar said: "We seem to be getting a lot of fires like this.
"I don't know about the circumstances of this particular fire. But elsewhere it appears there are far too large amounts of stock being held for far too long."
