Fire at derelict Smethwick factory closes road
A road in Smethwick was closed this morning after 25 firefighters tackled a blaze at a derelict factory.
Bridge Street North was finally opened mid morning as firefighters finished damping down any hotspots after getting the main seat of the fire under control.
Five fire crews and one aerial ladder were called to the blaze at 3.47am on Sunday.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to search the ground floor and people were urged to avoid the area.
Crews attended from Smethwick, Handsworth, Ladywood, West Bromwich and Oldbury.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We were called at 3.47am to an incident involving a severe fire in a two-storey derelict building.
"We used six breathing apparatus, three main jets, one hose reel jet and one hydraulic platform.
"Five engines were sent, with 25 firefighters.
"Water was taken from Birmingham Canal, and a gas engineer was requested but said there was no service to the site."
