'Catastrophic' fire that tore through row of Coventry shops was sparked by 'cannabis farm'

It happened on Walsgrave Road on Friday, September 27
-Credit: (Image: Carole Marie)


Police have confirmed that a 'catastrophic' blaze that tore through a row of Coventry shops was sparked by a 'cannabis farm.' It happened in Stoke at around 5.50pm on Friday (September 27).

Firefighters from Binley, Coventry, Foleshill, Canley, and Solihull were called to Oxfam and Window to the Womb on Walsgrave Road. Crews discovered that a large blaze had broken out in the roof of the building.

Officers from West Midlands Police were also sent to the scene and cordoned off Walsgrave Road. Crews spent around six hours tackling the blaze and removing a number of roof tiles from the building. Nobody was believed to have been injured.

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Today, West Midlands Police confirmed to CoventryLive that the fire was sparked by a cannabis farm, with the electricity supply believed to have been bypassed. Officers are continuing to investigate who was behind the serious blaze and urged those with information to get in touch by calling 101.

In a statement issued today (September 30), West Midlands Police said: “We are investigating following a fire at a cannabis farm in Coventry. We were called shortly before 6pm to Walsgrave Road to assist West Midlands Fire Service.

“Officers attended and discovered a cannabis grow inside along with bypassed electricity, believed to have caused the fire. Anyone with more information can contact us via 101 or Live Chat, quoting crime number 20/880239/24.

“Cannabis farms are a serious fire hazard because of the vast amounts of electricity needed to run them, and this is often done via unsafe electricity bypasses, which have been responsible for previous catastrophic fires. If you think there could be a cannabis farm near where you live, let us know.”

Smoke billowing from Window to the Womb on Walsgrave Road
Smoke billowing from Window to the Womb on Walsgrave Road -Credit:Gizem Kavakli Kosker

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “We responded to Walsgrave Road in Coventry at around 5.50pm on Friday (September 27). Initially, five fire engines and three 4x4 Brigade Response Vehicles attended the scene, crewed by firefighters from Binley, Coventry, Foleshill, Canley, and Solihull.

“It was a fire in the roof space of a shop that spread to the roofs of two neighbouring stores. Firefighters, who were supported by drone operations, extinguished the fire and removed several roof tiles from the building.

“We handed the scene over to West Midlands Police and left this incident at 11.45pm. Two revisits throughout the night confirmed no remaining hotspots.”

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