Fire at Wolverhampton apartment block leaves flat severely damaged

The fire broke out on the first floor of Wobaston Court in Fordhouses on Monday morning and was extinguished by three fire crews from West Midlands Fire Service.

A resident living in the block said they had seen the fire while out walking their dogs and claimed to have not heard any fire alarms going off in the building.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said: "I can confirm that two fire engines attended the scene and some council workers to assess the situation.

"I placed a call myself when I saw the fire and it took around 10 mins post my call for them to attend and I am aware that other residents also placed calls to 999.

"I would question our safety as there were no fire alarms going off and this was a blazing fire."

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: " We were alerted at 8.38am on Monday to reports of a fire involving a first-floor flat in a nine-storey block off Harrowby Road in Fordhouses.

"Three fire engines attended and crews began firefighting operations in breathing apparatus. 

"The fire is believed to have started accidentally on a balcony, before spreading into the flat. Around a tenth of the flat was damaged by fire, and all of it by smoke. 

"The occupier was out of the flat when we arrived.  We left the scene shortly before 11am."

A spokeswoman for Wolverhampton Homes, who manage Wobaston Court, said: "We are supporting West Midlands Fire Service following a small fire at Wobaston Court, believed to have started on a balcony. 

"Everyone was safely accounted for and no one was injured."