A major fire has torn through a large industrial unit in Birmingham, sending plumes of thick black smoke across the city and prompting a massive emergency response.
Scale of the Emergency
West Midlands Fire Service was first alerted at 7.13pm on Wednesday, January 7, to reports of a significant blaze at the Tyseley Industrial Estate on Seeleys Road. The incident involved a vast carpet storage warehouse, with the fire rapidly taking hold of the entire structure.
Fire commanders deployed a substantial force to tackle the inferno, with 14 fire engines, three hydraulic platforms, specialist units, and over 75 personnel rushing to the scene. Crews worked across three separate sectors in a determined effort to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to neighbouring properties.
Fighting the Inferno
The fire completely engulfed a two-storey brick-built factory unit measuring approximately 100 metres by 40 metres. The building housed Sam Carpet Ltd, a family-run business that had operated from the site for 25 years. Dramatic footage from aerial drones captured the sheer intensity of the blaze, which was visible from miles around.
Local residents reported hearing a series of loud explosions and popping noises as the fire raged. Firefighters utilised an array of specialist equipment, including hydraulic platforms to pour water from above and breathing apparatus for close-quarters work. Despite making "good progress," the fire service warned that operations were likely to be protracted and would not be scaled down for some time.
Impact and Ongoing Response
Authorities issued urgent advice to the public, urging people living nearby to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area due to the large amount of smoke. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and investigations will begin once the blaze is fully extinguished.
The business, Sam Carpets, has been described as destroyed after the flames gutted its warehouse units. The fire service's latest update, given at 11pm on Wednesday, confirmed crews were continuing to work diligently at the scene on the Tyseley Industrial Estate.
