'Continue to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed' - Fire service advice after Wolverhampton incident is scaled down
Residents and motorists have been asked to continue to avoid the area around the area around a large fire at a unit just outside Wolverhampton city centre as operations are scaled down.
Twelve crews fought the blaze at its height at an industrial unit at the junction of Commercial Road and Bilston Road after initially being called out around 1.15pm
Police were also on the scene directing traffic.
Crews are now scaling down the operation according to West Midlands Fire Service. The latest tweet says a presence will remain overnight and advised people living in the area to continue to close their doors and windows
Express & Star reporter Daniel Walton said crews were earlier seen using water from the nearby canal to tackle the flames.
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Nearby residents spoke of seeing flames initially high in the air but said rainy conditions had helped quell the blaze.
Thomas Harris, aged 45, said: "The flames were a lot higher earlier on but the rain and the swift response of fire crews has helped I think.
"We live quite close to the unit and everywhere around it, including our living room, smells of smoke now."
Nearby resident Anwar Mohammed, aged 36, said: "I usually drive that way to get back from work but you can't get past with the cars all over the place and being delayed.
"It looks fairly bad, looks like a factory, I hope everyone is ok."
