Breaking news... City high-rise fire

[rebbonk]

More as I learn it...

[dutchman]

Crews tackle severe 11th floor flat fire in Coventry



Fifty firefighters tackled a major blaze in a 16-storey block of flats in Coventry.

It broke out in an 11th floor flat of Samuel Vale House, in Radford, with smoke spreading to some homes above.

Parts of the St. Nicholas Street building were evacuated and fire crews in breathing apparatus went inside to guide people out.

Several calls came in to West Midlands Fire Service at 16:10 BST. The fire was declared out by 17:40.

Photographs on social media showed flames at two windows, with smoke pouring from the building as the partial evacuation took place.

A fire service spokesman said "several people were able to stay in their homes".

Ten fire engines, 4x4 response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform were sent to tackle the blaze, the cause of which is being investigated.

Multiple ambulance crews were also sent in, with onlookers reporting seeing people being given oxygen treatment. It is not thought anyone was seriously injured.

People who were led out of the building are being looked after at Coventry Central Seventh Day Adventist Church on St Nicholas Street.

A large cordon was put around the tower block.

[dutchman]

I twice rejected a flat there last year!

I think from memory all tenants have to be over 55 years of age?

[dutchman]

Investigators reveal cause of huge blaze which tore through Samuel Vale House in Coventry



Investigators have determined the cause of a severe blaze at a high-rise flat block in Coventry. Officials say the fire was sparked by 'an electric bike battery being left on charge.'

Samuel Vale House was engulfed in flames over the weekend as a large blaze took hold at around 4pm on Saturday (September 30). Firefighters spent several hours trying to extinguish the fire on St Nicholas Street.

A road closure was put in place by West Midlands Police. Paramedics and the WMAS Hazardous Area Response Team were also called to the scene at around 4.25pm.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said the blaze broke out on the 11th floor with thick plumes of smoke seen pouring from the building in Radford. Crews wearing breathing apparatus managed to extinguish the fire, which was confirmed to be out at 5.40pm.

A photograph shared by WMFS shows the 'shocking' damage caused to the flat involved, with several flats above also affected. A number of residents were evacuated and taken to Coventry Central Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Two people were reportedly 'led to safety' from inside the building. A man was treated for minor injuries and given self-care advice before being discharged, while a second man was assessed at the scene, but did not require treatment, said West Midlands Ambulance Service.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “We believe this fire started accidentally as a result of an electric bike battery being left on charge.”

[dutchman]

Resident rocked by Coventry tower block fire facing months away from home



The occupant of a high-rise flat that was engulfed by flames may not be able to return home for many months. A number of residents at Samuel Vale House, in St Nicholas Street, were evacuated last weekend after a fire tore through a flat on the 11th floor.

Thick plumes of smoke poured from the building, visible for miles around, after a fire was sparked by an electric bike battery being left on charge, West Midlands Fire Service said. The service released pictures of the flat's charred remains to reveal the shocking extent of the blaze its crews had to contend with.

Citizen said the occupant of the flat where the fire started may need to stay in alternative accommodation for some time. Residents of two other flats nearby will be allowed to return to their homes in the coming days, the social housing provider said.

Bridget Guilfoyle, director of asset management at Citizen, said: "The flat where the fire occurred will require extensive repairs due to the fire damage and we are currently assessing how long it will take to repair the flat before our customer can return.

"Most of our customers have returned to their homes in Samuel Vale House. Customers from two flats are living in temporary accommodation but they are due to return to their homes on Monday."

[dutchman]

That's the least of one resident's worries. My guess is he (or she) will be sent a bill for the full amount of the damage and I doubt very much the electric bike was covered for third-party fire?

[dutchman]

Flats blaze evidence helped secure e-battery ban



An e-bike battery that led to a major blaze in a block of flats was removed from the UK market thanks to evidence from fire investigators.

The fire in Coventry, last September, was linked to a UPP battery, West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said.

In January, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) officially classed the batteries as "dangerous" products, after evidence from fire services.

This brand of lithium-ion batteries has been linked to a number of fires in the UK.

As a result of the enforcement action, four online marketplaces, 20 online sellers, and the China-based manufacturer are no longer permitted to sell the battery, said WMFS.

The ban has been brought in after fire investigators sent evidence to the OPSS, in the wake of the blaze at Samuel Vale House, Radford Street.

Fortunately, no-one was injured in the fire.

“[But] our work with OPSS is potentially lifesaving," said WMFS watch manager Colin Stidworthy.

"We must identify any products that might be dangerous, and to ensure that we log incidents to capture any trends.”

Graham Russell, chief executive of OPSS said working closely with fire services allowed them to identify products that may be putting people at risk.

A key example of this has been taking action to stop the supply of "dangerous batteries used in e-bikes," he said.

That had come about following reports of fires involving UPP batteries from a number of fire and rescue services, including WMFS, he added.