Smethwick firm hit in sixth scrapyard fire

At its height 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Sims Metal Management site on Rabone Lane.

Sixty workers were evacuated and nearby residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed. Motorists were also advised to avoid the area.

Smoke could be seen billowing 100ft into the sky above Smethwick as the blaze took hold and could be seen from miles around.

The fire, which started at 9.40am, is the sixth in a spate of scrap yard blazes – all of which are suspected to have been started by arsonists.

Police were called in to cordon off the road at its junction with Cornwall Road and Foundry Lane to allow firefighters to get access to the scene.

Lorry and delivery drivers trying to get to nearby businesses were stopped by police.

Derek Campbell, general manager of Sims Metal Management, said 60 workers were evacuated from the site and nearby properties had been advised to keep their windows closed.

The fire is believed to have involved 500 tons of material – mainly light iron scrap metal.

Mr Campbell added: "We have senior guys out on site trying to find out what happened and the fire service is trying to bring it under control. There has been no danger to anyone."

Simon Grewal, aged 30, from Birmingham, spotted the fire as he dropped off a worker at East End cash and carry on Rabone Lane. "I first came here at 10am and the fire had already started. I came back half an hour later to pick up a package and it had got even worse," he said. "I've been waiting here for 30 minutes and the police won't let me down the road."

Matthew Smith, from West Midlands Fire Service, said: "The incident involved 500 tonnes of scrap metal in a yard measuring 50m by 100m. Residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows shut as a precautionary measure. We expect to be at the scene for some time."

It is not yet known exactly what caused the blaze on Rabone Lane. On Monday, six cars were destroyed at a fire at a yard on Lath Lane in Smethwick. That site was also targeted in an attack on May 23 when 70 cars were wrecked.

Police have said they are keeping an open mind as to whether the two fires were started by the same people as well as to the possibility that they could be linked to three other fires in May.

On Friday, May 24, 50 cars were destroyed at a yard on Roebuck Lane in Smethwick, and three days earlier around 180 cars were wrecked in two separate attacks in Bilston and Cradley.

Police previously released a CCTV image of three men entering a yard at Saltbrook Motors, based in Saltbrook Road, Cradley, before a fire there on Tuesday, May 21, when old Land Rovers, Renault Meganes and Ford Fiestas were among the 120 scrap cars set alight. They are still searching for the men captured on CCTV.

Flames reached 70ft as crews described being met by an 'intense heat' as they arrived at the Saltbrook Road scene.

Meanwhile, around 60 cars were destroyed and £5,000 damage caused at Joe's Cars Dismantlers in Withy Road, Bilston, also on May 21.