Severe fire in first-floor flat, Bell Green, Coventry

Riley Square, Bell Green, Coventry, UK

At 8.45pm on Sunday (18 Dec), we responded to a fire in a five-storey block of flats in Riley Square, Bell Green, Coventry.

We had several 999 calls to the incident. A total of nine fire engines were mobilised, from fire stations in Coventry and Birmingham.

This was a severe fire in a first-floor flat, which is believed to have started accidentally. The occupant, a man in his 30s, managed to get himself out before we arrived.

Several firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze, using hose reels and a main jet. The fire was confirmed to be out by 10pm and was successfully contained to the flat in which it started. The entire flat was, however, damaged by fire and smoke.

Several residents in the block were given fire survival guidance over the phone by Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control.

Our crews led one woman to safety, using a fire escape hood, before she was given oxygen outside and checked over by the ambulance service.

A woman and a baby were led to safety from another flat.

Five homes were left without power, so arrangements were made for them to be temporarily re-housed.

We worked closely with ambulance and police colleagues to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.