Nine fire crews fight severe blaze at old Walsall leisure centre
[gallery] Around 50 firefighters have been tackling a 'severe' blaze at a former leisure centre in Walsall Wood.
More than a dozen appliances from West Midlands Fire Service were sent to Lichfield Road after a suspected arson attack at the old Oak Park Leisure Centre building at around 5.15pm on Tuesday.
Nobody is believed to have been injured in the flames, which were contained to the reception area of the building that closed last year when the new multi-million Oak Park Active Living Centre opened across the road.
Smoke was pouring out of the derelict centre and the blaze blocked the A461 Lichfield Road between Brook Lane and Brownhills Road, causing delays for drivers.
Station Commander Andy Smith said that the complex building construction made for a 'challenging incident' and one fire engine remained at the leisure centre at 8am on Wednesday.
Prior to the fire, the old centre had been earmarked for demolition.
Workers at the site had only recently finished clearing it of asbestos and preparing for it to be knocked down, according to Walsall Wood councillor Anthony Harris.
One resident described the 'awful smell' from the fire while another said: "The flames were really bad coming out of the old entrance doors."
West Midlands Fire Service said: "We currently have 5 appliances dealing with a severe building fire on Lichfield Road. #WalsallWood."
