Evacuations after fire breaks out and smoke spotted near Fort Dunlop

Firefighters tackled a blaze near Fort Dunlop with witnesses spotting black smoke plumes on the skyline. A video from opposite the scene showed smoke rising into the air near the landmark office building in Erdington.

Several fire crews were sent to deal with the incident at a factory in Vantage Way shortly before 1.30pm today, Tuesday, January 14. Nine people were evacuated as a precaution as the unit, which is in the process of being "decommissioned", was affected, West Midlands Fire Service said.

No-one was believed to have been injured in the blaze which was said to have been contained to an extractor unit or tower on a factory roof. One person took to X, formerly Twitter, to share news of the fire.

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He wrote: "Another fire on the industrial estate next to the office!" West Midlands Fire Service said it had arrived on scene within five minutes. A spokesman for the service said: "Four fire engines are in attendance, crewed by firefighters from Ward End, Erdington, Aston, Sheldon. The first crew arrived at the scene within five minutes of being mobilised.

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"This is a fire at a factory site, understood to be in the process of being decommissioned. The fire is affecting an extraction/cooling tower. Nine people have been evacuated as a precaution.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working to extinguish the fire and to prevent it spreading. Electricity to the site has been isolated."