Crews still on the scene of major blaze at house in Bloxwich which spread to adjoining properties.

Alarmed residents in Bloxwich in Walsall dialled 999 as a house in Shrewsbury Close, Mossley caught fire at around 9.26pm- some were evacuated by emergency services and took shelter in a nearby church. The Red Cross also helped.

The fire was extinguished by 11pm but "extensively damaged" a a two storey, mid-terraced house and spread to neighbouring properties.

One man was led to safety by fire fighters and was assessed by the ambulance service.

The number 31 bus was diverted from the scene but is now following its normal line of route.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said the blaze was extinguished by 11pm as fire fighters used breathing apparatus and hose reels to contain the blaze. 

This morning they said a crew was still on sight and they are  investigating the cause of the blaze.

‘A challenging scene’

A statement from WMFS said: “Nine fire crews, our Technical Rescue Unit, a hydraulic aerial platform and a drone were mobilised.

“Our first resources arrived within five minutes of being mobilised. They were met with a challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey, mid-terraced house. The fire had also affected neighbouring properties.

“Several residents had got themselves to safety before we arrived, and others were evacuated by emergency services as a precaution.

“Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire, which had been extinguished by around 11pm.

“Colleagues from the police also attended, as well as the council and utility companies.

“Our investigators will be working to establish the cause.

We would like to thank local people for their patience and understanding as we continue our work at the scene.”