Birmingham's Utilita Arena evacuated ahead of athletics championships due to cooker fire
Birmingham's Utilita Arena was evacuated this morning (February 22) ahead of the first event of the British Indoor Athletics Championships after due to a cooker fire in a communal area nearby.
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Fire crews were called to the complex in Birmingham City Centre at about 9am after athletes spotted smoke in the vicinity.
West Midlands Fire Service said no-one was hurt and the incident did not involve arena buildings.
The arena said the incident resulted in a 90-minute delay in the start of the championships at the premises also known as the National Indoor Arena.
The website stated: "The start of the 2025 Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships has been delayed following an incident that required the evacuation of the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this morning.
"A 90-minute hour delay to the timetable has been agreed in order to allow athletes, officials and spectators adequate time to prepare for the day’s events. Saturday’s timetable of events is now expected to start at 12.55.
"Spectators will experience a delay to the opening of the aren, and should keep across UK Athletics channels for further information. There is currently no expected delay to Sunday’s timetable."
Meanwhile British Athletics posted on social media network X: "@BritAthletics Spectators will experience a delay to the opening of the arena - there is currently no expected delay to Sunday’s timetable. Further information will be released on UK Athletics channels in due course."
