Smoke seen for miles around as huge blaze breaks out in Coventry

[dutchman]

Firefighters were called to Walsgrave Road in Stoke yesterday (September 27)



Smoke could be seen for miles around as a large blaze took hold of a mixed-use building in Coventry. It happened on Walsgrave Road in Stoke yesterday evening, Friday, September 27.

Firefighters from Coventry, Binley, Foleshill, Canley, and Solihull were called to ultrasound service Window to the Womb at around 5.50pm. Crews spent hours battling a blaze in the roof of the building.

Police were also called to the scene of the incident and cordoned off the road, which later reopened. Nobody was believed to have been injured.

Crews remained at the scene at 9.30pm, with West Midlands Fire Service saying the incident had been 'mostly dealt with.' Investigations into what sparked the blaze are now underway, they told CoventryLive.

A spokesman for Window to the Womb said on Facebook: “We are heartbroken to inform you a fire in the building above has caused significant damage. While we are grateful no-one was hurt, the extent of the damage requires us to close temporarily.

“We will provide updates as we work towards reopening. Thanks for your understanding and support during this difficult time.”

[dutchman]

Cannabis farm?

There was a similar fire in The Butts a week or two ago but for whatever reason it was never reported.

[dutchman]

Surprise, surprise!

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



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.

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.”

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.”

[rebbonk]