Two men were forced to flee as a shop in Birmingham became engulfed in flames in an early-morning blaze. Dramatic footage captured the Bob Shop in Alum Rock fully ablaze as explosions were heard from inside.
Three fire crews battled the blaze after the initial alert at 1 am today, Wednesday, August 21. Two men, who managed to escape before fire crews arrived, suffered burns in the incident. They were treated by paramedics and taken to Heartlands Hospital.
Firefighters found the blaze started accidentally due to an “electrical fault.” Crews left the scene shortly before 4 am, with police helping fire crews to manage traffic.
A statement from West Midlands Fire Service read: “Shortly before 1 am on Wednesday, August 21, we responded to Alum Rock Road in the Saltley area of Birmingham. Two fire engines and a 4×4 brigade response vehicle from Ward End and Highgate stations responded, the first arriving at the scene within four minutes of being mobilised.
“This was a fire involving the frontage of a two-storey grocery shop. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, which caused heat and smoke damage to the rest of the shop.
“Two men freed themselves from the shop before we arrived. They were treated by paramedics for burns and are believed to have been conveyed to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment.
“Firefighters checked adjoining shops for fire spread using thermal imaging cameras but none was found. This fire started accidentally due to an electrical fault. Crews damped down and left the scene at 3:38 am with police colleagues assisting with traffic management.”
West Midlands Police confirmed the fire was not being treated as suspicious.
