Five people in hospital following fire in Walsall - including a child with 'potentially life-threatening injuries'

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent five ambulances, four paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team and two Critical Care Cars from Midlands Air Ambulance to the scene on Redwood Road, Walsall. 

The incident involved a severe fire in a 2 storey flat above a shop, in a mid terraced block, according to the West Midlands Fire service. 

A total of 9 fire engines from Walsall, Aldridge, Bilston, Bloxwich, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Willenhall fire stations arrived on scene within five minutes of the 999 call. 

During the incident 19 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to search for people and extinguish the fire.

The crews discovered nine patients on the scene. Five people required hospital treatment - including a child with "potentially life-threatening injuries". 

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival ambulance staff discovered nine patients. Firstly, a child who was assessed and had sustained potentially life-threatening injuries.

“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital with medics travelling on board for further treatment en route.

“Four further patients; two women, a man and a teenage male were assessed and received treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Walsall Manor Hospital for further assessment.

“A further four patients were assessed by ambulance staff at the scene and did not require further treatment. They received self-care advice before being discharged at the scene."

West Midlands Fire Service said the fire started in the hallway on the ground floor, in the entrance to the flat between two shops and then spread upwards. 

It was brought under control by our crews and is now extinguished. 

Firefighting crews remained in attendance at the scene during the night and into the early hours of this morning, checking for hot spots and damping down, whilst investigations continue today alongside police colleagues.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill added: "This was a significant fire in a block of flats above a shop. On their arrival my firefighters worked extremely hard in really challenging conditions and rescued 4 people from the block via a ladder. Two of these were in critical condition, including a child. 

"Firefighters also assisted a further 4 people from the block. In total WMFS and WMAS treated 10 people for smoke inhalation and they were then taken to hospital. I want to pay tribute to all the WMFS staff who attended the incident. 

"Every day they are willing to put their lives at risk to protect the people of the West Midlands, and this tragic incident is one example of this. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the incident and all those affected. We will have specialist fire investigators at scene who will now work alongside police colleagues to determine the cause of the fire.’