Firefighters tackle suspected arson attack at West Bromwich office block

Emergency services were called to Society House, in High Street, at around 8.50am on Wednesday.

West Midlands Fire Service said around 80 fire service personnel were at the scene – and 15 fire engines and a hydraulic platform.

Photos from the scene show smoke billowing from the six-storey building – which used to be the West Bromwich Building Society headquarters.

West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service are also in attendance, but it is not believed anyone has been injured.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said it is suspected to be arson.

West Midlands Fire Service was scaling down resources shortly before midday – as they believed the fire had been extinguished.

An investigation into the cause is underway.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We received the first call at around 8.52am on Wednesday to reports of a fire in offices off High Street, in West Bromwich.

"It is the former West Bromwich Society headquarters called Society House.

"When crews arrived they reported smoke coming from the top three floors of the six-storey disused building.

"There are at least 50 firefighters in attendance, with at least eight fire engines and a hydraulic platform.

"Dartmouth Road is closed up to High Street and the police are managing the closure. High Street has also been partially closed, but access to properties and shops remains.

"West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service are also in attendance."

At around 12pm, the spokesman said: "It increased to around 80 fire service personnel – including firefighters and officers at the scene, with 15 fire engines and a hydraulic platform.

"We are due to release five engines and the hydraulic platform from the scene. So we will still have around 10 fire engines and 50-60 personnel there for a time.

"It is believed the fire has now been extinguished. Fire investigations have now begun. Our investigators will be working with police investigators to try and establish the cause."

Speaking at the scene, West Midlands Fire Service area commander Samantha Burton: "The first call with this morning at 8:52am when we mobilised a number of resources to the incident, the first of which arrived within under four minutes.

"The call came through our fire control on the 999 system and then crews were mobilised through information received on scene to their control.

"We were able then to increase and send other resources to the scene, with 15 resources with associated specialist equipment.

"We also had an hydraulic platform here and equipment resources that support the functional areas within the incident.

"We had a number of fires within the building which was deemed as severe, but were quickly extinguished by the crews, who gained access to the building very quickly.

"Initial information was given to us that there were potentially rough sleepers within the building, so we also ensured that we had the right level of resources responding appropriately so we can ensure that if anyone was within the building, we could act effectively carry out rescues.

"The information was there was nobody within the building, but we are investigating that further and we are currently insuring that a full thorough search of the building is carried out.

"FIPS officers are here working with police on the scene to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed at the moment is Arson and deliberate ignition but will confirm that to the investigations.

"We've got a number of road closures in place, so please follow our Twitter to look at when these road closures will be open.

"We will obviously do that when it's safe to do so, but Dartmouth Road and part of West Brom High Street are currently closed right now."

Firefighters from stations including West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Dudley, Willenhall, Smethwick, Haden Cross, Tipton, Walsall, Bilston, Oldbury, Brierley Hill, Aston, Perry Barr, Handsworth, Ladywood and Billesley were all in attendance.

Businesses and people near Society House have expressed their shock at seeing the smoke billowing from the building.

Michael Uzoagbo, security guard at West Bromwich Housing Service across the road, said: "I started work at 8am and, about 40 minutes later, saw smoke billowing out of the top floor.

"It was really thick and going down the street, but the fire service got here really quickly.

"I know people sleep rough in there, so I hope no one is hurt.

"That building is meant to be getting converted into flats, but nothing has happened since coronavirus started."

A shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, added: "I saw smoke coming out of the top floor and wondered what was going on.

"It's worrying as it's so close to a lot of shops and offices, but the fire service were really quick getting here and putting it out."

West Midlands Police confirmed they were in attendance at the scene. The force added: "We suspect it’s arson."

Society House at 374 High Street was the former headquarters of West Bromwich Building Society. The building society relocated to newly-built premises at Providence Place, in West Bromwich, in 2016.

Society House was sold to Doncaster-based Empire Property Holdings Ltd for £3 million in April 2018.

More information to follow.