Fifty firefighters tackle factory blaze that ripped through city building

FIRE DEVASTATED A THREE-STOREY FACTORY BUILDING IN REA STREET SOUTH IN DIGBETH, BIRMINGHAM 12:52, 20 May 2025 Around 16 fire crews and support vehicles and around 50 firefighters tackled a

Birmingham city centre factory blaze that ripped through a building. The fire was in a three-storey building in Rea Street South in Digbeth and started shortly before 9am today, Tuesday, May

20. West Midlands Fire Service initially sent ten crews to the scene, eight fire engines, a hydraulic platform and a 4x4 brigade response vehicle. READ MORE: HUGE FIRE IN BUILDING LIVE –

BLAZE IN CITY CENTRE LEADS TO EVACUATIONS They discovered the fire was affecting two floors of a factory unit – which a neighbouring premises occupier said was a ‘factory studio’. The

resources sent to tackle the blaze were stepped up with nine fire engines from Hay Mills, Ward End, Billesley, Handsworth, Kings Norton, Smethwick, Solihull, Ladywood and Aston. Article

continues below Three hydraulic platforms Oldbury, Walsall and Highgate were also called in to action. In addition there were two high volume pumps, a command support vehicle and two other

specialist vehicles at the scene. Drone footage from the scene showed the building devastated by the fire with its roof missing and blackened areas visible across the building, from the

aerial unit. A spokesman from the Islamic Relief charity, based in a neighbouring site, said: “The fire is in the building next door. It's a furniture studio. “We were asked to leave

the building. People have either gone to our training centre around the corner or have gone home. “I could see dark smoke coming from the building.” Smoke could be seen from the blaze across

the city centre. A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “At 8.55am on Tuesday, May 20, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control started to receive multiple 999 calls about a

fire in Digbeth, Birmingham. “As of 10.10am, eight fire engines, a hydraulic aerial platform and a 4×4 brigade response vehicle were in attendance at a fire in a three-storey building on Rea

Street. More resources were being sent to the scene.” Article continues below The statement continued: “At this stage, there are no reports of anyone being injured. “The fire is creating

large amounts of smoke, so we are asking people to avoid the area. “People nearby should keep doors and windows closed as a precaution.”