Big fire at Coseley scrap firm hits mainline trains

Up to 200 tons of scrap metal was alight in the fire at Geo Johnson Metals scrap merchants, in Havacre Lane, Coseley, last night.

Trains were forced to divert away from Coseley as smoke filled the skies across tracks near the town's railway station.

Residents saw flames shooting 20ft into the night sky as the pile of scrap and car parts caught alight at around 8.40pm (TUES).

Police closed off Havacre Road between Darkhouse Lane and Anchor Road close to a railway bridge linking to the station.

Fire crews from Bilston, Dudley and Tipton tackled the blaze with a hydraulic platform brought in to douse the fierce flames.

They fired water at the blaze to also help cool metal girders holding concrete fencing panels to together near the tracks.

At one stage it was feared the concrete fencing would collapse onto the tracks but crews managed to contain the heat of the blaze.

Once under control, workers from the company helped crews by using machinery to move the pile of metal so firefighters could tackle all parts of the blaze.

Water had to be pumped from a nearby canal to help put out the fire.

Watch Commander Ade Cope, of Bilston Fire Station, said crews were faced with a very severe blaze when they first arrived.

"It was a very well developed fire when we arrived with smoke and flames going very high into the sky," he said.

"We were able to stop the fire escalating through the weight of attack and immediacy of our response.

"The employees at the firm have been very helpful and we were grateful for their assistance."

Firefighters remained at the scene overnight. The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.

Train operator London Midland asked travellers to use their rail tickets on the Midland Metro or buses between Wolverhampton and Birmingham to avoid delays.

Trains were allowed to pass the scene again within around two hours although they were only allowed to travel at 10mph.