Severe fire in two-storey flat, Coventry
Fifty West Mids firefighters tackle overnight blaze in two-storey flat in Coventry
Jubilee Crescent, Radford, Coventry, UK
At 9.26pm on Tuesday 24 January we responded to a severe fire in a two-storey flat above shops in Jubilee Crescent, Radford, Coventry. At its height, we had 10 fire engines and some 50 firefighters in attendance, together with a hydraulic aerial platform. Crews responded from fire stations in Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham. Our crews faced a number of challenges during the firefighting operation, including the collapse of the loft into the first floor. They wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to bring the fire under control. The city council opened a local library to provide temporary shelter for residents displaced from several flats. The authority was also due to send a structural engineer to the scene today to assess the fire-affected premises. This morning, our resources at the scene have been scaled down to one fire engine.
Updates for this incident
After an inspection by a structural engineer from Coventry City Council, at around midday on 25 January, some residents were able to return to their homes. We were aware residents from three properties, due to safety reasons, were not able to return. Where safe to do so, affected residents were escorted to their properties to retrieve personal belongings. Coventry City Council, who was assisting us at this incident, was arranging temporary accommodation for those displaced residents. Two businesses remained closed for safety reasons when we left the scene. Our technical rescue team assisted in boarding up windows, under the guidance of a structural engineer from the council. Further crews, using a hydraulic platform, assisted in covering the roof of the affected property using salvage sheets. The incident was handed over to West Midlands Police at 17:05 and our crews left the scene shortly afterwards. The cause is still under investigation.
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