'Investigations ongoing' into Wolverhampton factory blaze as cause remains 'undetermined'
Fire service investigators have said that the cause of the major factory blaze on Upper Villiers Street remains 'undetermined'.
West Midlands Fire Service have revealed that investigations into the cause of a major fire on Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, are ongoing as they continue to determine the cause.
It follows a blaze that gutted 32 units inside the complex on the corner of Upper Villiers Street and Sunbeam Street on January 14.
Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter
The blaze broke out at around 7.30am, and saw the fire service work alongside West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service in a major operation to secure the site and dampen the flames.
A major investigation was launched once the flames were quelled, with the roads adjacent to the affected factory being closed since the day of the fire.
Now, more than six days after the fire broke out, West Midlands Fire Service have confirmed that the cause of the blaze remains 'undetermined' due to 'unsafe structural conditions'.
A fire service spokesperson said: "Investigations are ongoing. Despite gathering CCTV and identifying a potential room of origin, unsafe structural conditions mean proper access isn't possible.
"So, the cause will remain undetermined whilst wider enquiries continue."
The blaze gutted 32 units inside the complex, with one business, SR Living, saying that the situation for business owners is 'very bad'.
Mr Younis Choudhry told the Express & Star: "The situation is very bad for us.
"We've suffered a £900,000 loss. I've worked very hard to make this business, and it took me over 10 years to build it up to where it is. I feel like my life has been destroyed. The only positive side is that no one got hurt."
The blaze is said to have started at a car repair shop to the rear of the old factory site, and resulted in around 100 firefighters tackling the incident at its height.
The road has remained closed since the day of the fire.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.