Homes evacuated as fire crews battle severe blaze in Oldbury
Homes were evacuated when flames ripped through roofs in a row of terraced homes.
Almost 30 firefighters converged on Salop Road in Oldbury to tackle the blaze which closed the street for several hours last night.
Police are investigating the fire, which started in the roof of an apartment above a pet supplies shop.
The flames spread to the roof above an adjoining Chinese takeaway and in total four properties in the street were evacuated.
Crews from Smethwick and Oldbury were alerted by a 999 call at 10.38pm on Thursday night but quickly called for back up from other areas, including the aerial platform from Walsall.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the flames from inside the building while crews on the hydraulic platform fought the blaze from above.
Salop Road was cordoned off while the emergency services worked at the scene and remained closed this morning as a crew from Smethwick returned to the scene to check the buildings.
Firefighter Rich Stanton tweeted from the scene: “Currently in attendance at a serious incident in Oldbury. We have five fire engines and one hydraulic platform in attendance.
“Assertive actions from the first crews have prevented fire spread to adjoining properties and businesses.”
No one was hurt in the fire, said the ambulance service.
Gas and electricity engineers were called to isolate the supplies.
It is not yet known how the blaze started.
