Faulty washing machine sparks 'severe fire' in Mercia House

[dutchman]

A faulty washing machine sparked a "severe fire" which has closed part of Coventry city centre this afternoon.



Five fire engines were called to Mercia House, a 19-storey block of flats at the bottom of the Lower Precinct and Corporation Street just before 12.10pm.

Incident commander Paul Wattling, of Foleshill fire station, said the "severe fire" started in a washing machine in a tenth floor flat.

A woman who was in the flat at the time raised the alarm. She was not hurt.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent in to tackle the flames, which have now been extinguished.

Mr Wattling said: "It's a good job the occupant was in to raise the alarm.

"This could have been a potentially major fire, especially with the high winds and the fact it was on the tenth floor."

Corporation Street is set to remain closed for the next hour, and bus services are being diverted.