MAJOR |NC|DENT EXPLOS|ONS HEARD AS TOX|C F|RE ERUPTS AT WOLVERHAMPTON FACTORY — SMOKE SEEN FOR M|LES

Firefighters rush to ‘major toxic incident’ at Wolverhampton factory as ‘explosions’ are heard and smoke is visible for miles

Dozens of firefighters are battling a huge factory blaze that has sparked a ‘major toxic incident’ in the Midlands today.

Images show towering plumes of thick black smoke and explosions around the building, with the inferno visible from miles away. One local reported seeing the smoke from the market town of Shifnal, 13 miles from Wolverhampton.

Residents have been advised to stay indoors, while drivers have been warned to avoid the area while emergency services continue to bring the fire under control.

St Luke’s Primary School, which is nearby, sent all its pupils home over safety fears.

The public has also been warned to avoid St Luke’s Church as closures are in place on Upper Villiers Street in both directions, between Marston Road and Sunbeam Street.

West Midlands Fire Service described the blaze as ‘significant’ and said the ‘large smoke plume has the potential to affect visibility and air quality’.

Officers have warned that disruption is likely to continue for the rest of the day and overnight into Thursday.

Witnesses first reported the flames shortly after 7.20am, with the fire spreading to nearby buildings. According to residents, the fire broke out at a car repair unit in Sunbeam Street.

Towering plumes of thick black smoke and explosions have been reported after a blaze broke out at a factory in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, this morning

More than 40 firefighters have rushed to the scene in Wolverhampton, where a ‘major toxic incident’ has been declared

Firefighters have been surveying the area using drones, supported by 17 fire engines

Local Dave Bennett, who lives close to the scene, said: ‘The area is full of smoke. It’s hard to breathe.’

West Midlands Fire Service issued an update just after 12.30pm on Wednesday stating it had ‘increased our resources’ with 21 fire engines, two 4×4 brigade response vehicles, three hydraulic aerial platforms and a drone team at the scene.

An evacuation point has been allocated on Bromley Street, with police officers supporting with traffic management.

Former Labour councillor Paul Birch described the incident as ‘a major toxic incident’.

In a statement, West Midlands Fire Service said: ‘Shortly after 7.30am on Wednesday (14 January), we responded to Sunbeam Street, near the junction Upper Villiers Street in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton.

‘Firefighters from Bilston, Fallings Park, Tipton, Willenhall, Haden Cross, Wednesbury, Dudley and Walsall are at the scene.

‘The first crew arrived at the incident within three minutes of being mobilised.

‘This is a fire in a factory building. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are currently tackling the fire using hose reel jets.

‘This is a live incident. Please avoid the area whilst we work at the scene as there is significant disruption.

‘If you live or work in the area, please close your doors and windows.’

The smoke has been reported as visible from miles away from the scene

Local resident Sam Francis reported seeing the smoke from the market town of Shifnal, 13 miles away from Wolverhampton

Karl Geraghty, who lives nearby said: ‘There is thick black smoke and flames and I can hear explosions. It is clearly a major fire.’

Another onlooker said: ‘I was travelling into work this morning and saw the cloud from Codsall.

‘People have been telling me about the fire and how they’ve seen someone running out of their business with gas canisters and other bits.

‘It’s frightening because of how big it looks and how high the flames are.’

Catherine Pickett, of Penn, Wolverhampton, who was driving to work, said: ‘You can smell the fire in the air.

‘There are flames and thick smoke and I can just hear sirens coming from every direction.’

A worker from a company near the fire, who did not wish to be named, added: ‘I think we should be ok as the fire is going the other way, but we saw the orange glow from our windows.

‘I was driving in from the M6 Toll and saw the smoke from there, so you can tell how bad it is. We hope it doesn’t cause any damage as it’s going to cost a lot to repair things’

Another local resident said: ‘I’ve just heard about the fire and seen the smoke as I live in the new build flats nearby and I saw a woman crying as she’d just put new stock in her shop and it’s all been ruined.

‘I don’t feel worried for myself as I think we’re safe, but it’s just really bad for the whole community as people are going to lose their businesses from this.’