Man dies as firefighters tackle major blaze at Birmingham hostel as traffic and transport left disrupted
A man has died in a major fire which broke out at a hostel in the early hours of the morning and saw Firefighters from across Birmingham and Sandwell called to the scene.
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Crews from Ladywood, Smethwick, Bournbrook, Woodgate Valley and Handsworth Fire Stations were called to the scene on Hagley Road at around 4.30am on Friday morning after reports of a fire in a ground floor flat.
The crews, plus an hydraulic aerial platform from Highgate, tackled the blaze with hose reel jets and one main jet, while two neighbouring properties were also evacuated as a precaution.
Ambulance crews at the scene treated a man at the scene, but were unable to save him and he was declared deceased at the scene.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a fire at a private address on Hagley Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham at 4.29am.
"We sent an ambulance, a paramedic officer and the WMAS Critical Care Car to the scene.
"On arrival, crews found a man.
"It quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save the man who was confirmed deceased at the scene.”
The area around Hagley Road was also closed off from the junction with Sandon Road to Meadow Road, with major traffic queues building up in the area over the course of the morning.
The roads were later reopened, although motorists were still warned by West Midlands Police to avoid the area.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "Shortly before 4.30am on Friday, May 9, we responded to a fire on Hagley Road, in the Bearwood area of Birmingham.
"Five fire engines from Ladywood, Smethwick, Bournbrook, Woodgate Valley and Handsworth responded.
"A hydraulic aerial platform from Highgate also attended. The fire involved a flat on the ground floor of a four-storey property.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and one main jet to bring the fire under control. Two neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.
"We have scaled down our resources at the scene but remain in attendance, working with colleagues from West Midlands Police."
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We're currently at the scene of a serious fire on Hagley Road in Harborne.
"We were called to the property, near the junction with Sandon Road, just before 4.30am today. The fire has since been put out, but we remain at the scene and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
"We are working with West Midlands Fire Service to establish the cause. Anyone with information get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 338."
West Midlands Ambulance Service have been contacted for a comment.
