'I thought my laptop was overheating' - Eight fire crews tackle vehicle fire in Walsall garage as locals left puzzled by blaze
Firefighters were called to a blaze involving multiple vehicles at a car garage in Walsall on Wednesday morning.
Six fire engines were initially sent to the scene at Shaz Autos on Franchise Street in Darlaston shortly before 7.30am on March 11 following reports of a fire involving multiple vehicles inside the garage.
According to updates from the scene, six vehicles belonging to customers were inside the garage when the fire started, as well as one staff member.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked to tackle the flames using hose reels and water jets, while workers from Cadent Gas were in attendance to help shut off a gas pipe that ran through the garage.
The scale of the response later increased to eight fire engines along with specialist equipment, including a hydraulic aerial platform, as crews worked to contain the fire and prevent it spreading further.
West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended and assessed the man that was present at the scene as a precaution. He did not require hospital treatment and was discharged with self-care advice. He remained at the scene to help the emergency services with their enquiries.
The fire was brought under control by 9.40am, and crews remained at the site to damp down hotspots and monitor the building. The cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed, but conversations between staff members at Shaz Autos suggested a fault with an electric vehicle that had been brought into the garage for repairs was likely.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: "Shortly before 7.30am on Wednesday 11 March, we responded to reports of a fire on Franchise street, Walsall.
"A total of eight fire engines, three brigade response vehicles, and one of our hydraulic aerial platforms have been at the scene.
"This involved several cars on fire within a commercial garage premises.
"Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire using hose reels and main jets. It was confirmed to be out at 9.40am.
"One person was given a precautionary check on scene, but wasn't taken to hospital.
"We have scaled down our resources, and expect to remain in attendance whilst we monitor hotspots."
One resident on Franchise Street said: "It would have been about 7am that I noticed something. I thought (the smell) was my laptop overheating. I don't know what has caused (the fire)."
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a fire on Franchise Street in Darlaston at 8.33am and sent an ambulance to the scene. On arrival, crews found a man, who they assessed before he was discharged at the scene with self-care advice."
