Fire rips through roof near suspected cannabis farm in Birmingham
A severe fire ripped through a roof space near where a suspected cannabis farm was being grown.
A total of 35 firefighters tackled the blaze above Tiffin Lounge in Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, just before 4am this morning.
Six people managed to get out of affected properties before fire crews arrived.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "It was a severe fire involving the fire floor and roof space of a two-storey building in a terraced row of shops, some of which have living accommodation above them.
"Six people got themselves out before we arrived.
"Our crews as well as tackling the fire, got in place measures to stop it spreading along the row of premises.
"At 6am they were continuing to make good progress and were scaling down the resources to four fire engines.
"They also said the fire had been successfully confined to the one property.
"It's suspected that some of the premises was being used to grow cannabis.
"They do not yet have a cause of the fire."
It is not yet known if there were any injuries.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called by fire colleagues after a cannabis factory was discovered at a property that was on fire in Pershore Road, Birmingham, shortly before 4am today.
"Fortunately no one was injured and we do not believe the fire was started suspiciously.
"Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote crime reference 20BW/76856G/20."
