Rowley Regis flat fire that forced residents out believed to be 'accidental' - fire service
Smoke from the fire could be seen rising above the skyline for miles around.
A fire that saw residents evacuated from a block of flats in Rowley Regis is believed to have been started accidentally, fire investigators have said.
The fire broke out at the 82-flat block in St Giles Court, Reservoir Road, Rowley Regis, shortly before 11.30am on Saturday (May 2).
Around 30 firefighters tackled the fire at the height of the incident, with the tenants all evacuated safely.
Now, following an investigation, West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed that the blaze is believed to have been started accidentally.
A fire service spokesperson said: “This fire is believed to have been started accidentally.”
One seventh-floor resident, Sandra Annor, had told the Express & Star her daughter alerted her to the fire.
Speaking shortly after being evacuated, she said: “I was combing my daughter's hair, and I went to the kitchen to grab some stuff, and then she called me and said ‘mummy, fire’.
“I haven’t been on the balcony for about a year, and I thought she was playing a joke on me or something. I opened the balcony door and saw the fire coming up.
“It was just black flame, and I just panicked. I came out, rang the concierge and cleared everyone from the building, and they rang the fire service. I was banging on my neighbours’ door to let them know.”
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that no one was hurt in the blaze.
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