Traffic delays in Birmingham as crews tackle electrical fire 'caused by flooding'
Fire crews are at the scene of an electrical fire that was caused by overnight flooding in Birmingham.
Several crews responded to the incident in a void building that is under renovation on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham City Centre after fire broke out overnight.
Traffic delays were reported in the area as crews tackled the flames and started pumping out the flood water - with people being warned to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service wrote on X: "For awareness we have several crews are in attendance at a basement flooding on Steelhouse lane, City Centre, Birmingham.
"There will be traffic delays around this area whilst crews work to make the area safe."
A follow up post from the service said: "We're still at the scene. Incident involved a switchboard electrical fire in a void building under renovation, caused by overnight flooding. No injuries reported.
"Fire is out, crews are pumping the water. Please avoid the area due to traffic delays. @nationalgriduk assisting."
A spokesperson for National Grid said: "The switchboard is the customer’s installation, not National Grid equipment. We are in attendance to isolate the supply to the affected premises for safety purposes.
"This is standard practice, and no power supplies of neighbouring properties or the wider area are being affected."
West Midlands Fire Service added: "We were called just after 8.25am on Wednesday 26 June. Three fire engines and a 4x4 brigade response vehicle responded, with firefighters from Aston, Highgate and Handsworth attending.
"The fire, in the basement electrical switchboard, is believed to have been caused by overnight flooding. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a CO2 extinguisher to tackle the fire and ventilated the basement.
"The building, which is currently void and undergoing renovation, was fully evacuated before our arrival. Firefighters worked to pump water from the basement and monitored the site for any signs of reignition.
"Representatives from National Grid were in attendance to isolate the electrical supply. We left this incident at 10.30am, after a handover with the site manager."
