Fire breaks out at derelict three-storey building in Wolverhampton

West Midlands Fire Service were called to the scene in Tettenhall Road, in Finchfield, at around 1.30pm today.

The fire is on the ground and first floor of the derelict three-storey building.

A total of 18 firefighters were called to the scene – with the first crew arriving in three minutes.

West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service are also at the scene.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said it is believed the building was used for rough sleeping.

Police were attended to secure the building.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, a spokesman from West Midlands Fire Service confirmed.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "We received a 999 call reporting a fire in Tettenhall Road, in Finchfield, at around 1.30pm on Monday afternoon.

"We responded by sending three fire engines and a brigade response vehicle – a total of 18 firefighters. The first crew was on the scene within three minutes.

"It was a fire in a void domestic three-storey building which had been separated into two semi-detached homes.

"The fire involved around a quarter of the ground floor of the building, but had also affected the first floor. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to tackle the fire.

"They searched the entire building and fortunately, nobody was found inside. The building is believed to have been used for rough sleeping.

"The police attended and were arranging for the property to be secured and boarded up.

"The cause of the fire is not yet known – our fire investigators have attended the scene."

A spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 1.41pm to reports of a property fire on Tettenhall Road.

"One ambulance and a paramedic officer are in attendance at the scene, there are no currently no patients for us to treat."

West Midlands Police has been approached for further information.