'When the roof collapsed it was like a huge fireball' - Neighbour of massive Walsall house destroyed by fire speaks out
Fire crews and the police remain at the detached Walsall house destroyed by what neighbours called 'a fireball' this morning.
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The sprawling property on the Broadway was engulfed by flames and only a shell remains but no-one was injured in the blaze as the home was empty.
Over 30 firefighters were fighting the blaze around dawn this morning and at 4.30pm today (Sunday) both police officers and firefighters remained at the scene.
Neighbours told the Express & Star the house has been empty for months.
Neighbour Adam Hassouna, whose father owns the next door property, said: "I was woken up with banging on the door about five in the morning. I thought it was our house which was on fire.
"When I looked out the window I saw there was smoke everywhere. And I could see a fire engine."
He added: "You could not see a thing because of the smoke when I got outside. The firefighters were amazing. They got us out of the house in case ours ended up on fire."
He added: "We watched the roof collapse. It was like a massive fireball. The whole place had flames shooting everywhere."
With the average price of properties on The Broadway around £400,000 the destroyed house, which is opposite The University of Wolverhampton's Walsall Sports Campus, was believed to be worth nearly £500,000.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "The place has been empty for a while, well over a few months. We've not seen much activity going on there for a long time. The longer a house is empty the more chance there is something dangerous happening.
"Whether it be squatters, or thieves or someone growing drugs, an empty house is never good for the area. But the most important thing is no-one was hurt. And the fire did not spread to the houses either side."
West Midlands Fire Service sent five crews to the blaze and a hydraulic platform.
Both directions of the Broadway had to be closed to allow the fire service to tackle the blaze. The road was reopened before midday.
Residents were also urged to keep windows and doors closed.
Posting on X at 6am, West Midlands Fire Service said: "We have 5 appliances and a hydraulic platform in attendance at an incident on Broadway, Walsall involving a property fire.
"All residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed.
"There is a total road closure in both directions of the carriageway on Broadway."
An update later this morning said: "Crews have been working hard to extinguish the fire.
"Damping down of hot spots continues, and the incident has been scaled down to 2 appliances and a hydraulic platform. Broadway, Walsall has now been reopened."
