Residents evacuated after severe flat fire in Birmingham tower block
Residents from an 11-storey tower block in Birmingham were evacuated after a severe fire broke out in a flat.
West Midlands Fire Service was called to Montreal House, in Benmore Avenue, in Edgbaston, at around 3.15pm today to reports of a severe fire in a flat.
The fire is believed to have started in a flat on the ninth floor of the 11-storey building but the cause is not yet known.
All of the residents were evacuated as a precaution, a spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said. No-one was injured in the fire.
West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police were also at the scene.
Matthew Ling, station commander for Smethwick fire station, said: "We were called to Montreal House, in Benmore Avenue, at around 3.15pm on Thursday. The first crew arrived at the scene within five minutes.
"We sent six appliances to the fire, as well as a hydraulic platform, so around 45 firefighters were sent to the scene.
"A severe broke out in a flat on the ninth floor of the 11-storey block and investigations are on-going into the cause. A full evacuation of the building was carried out as a precaution.
"The fire is now out and some residents are now being allowed back in the building.
"The level of training we undertake at West Midlands Fire Service to tackle high-rise fires has really paid off today and led to a good result with no injuries."
