One man rescued as firefighters tackle ‘severe’ restaurant blaze in Birmingham
About 40 firefighters are tackling a “severe” blaze at a restaurant in Birmingham which has seen one person rescued from a first floor window.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was called to reports of a blaze at the African Village restaurant on Birchfield Road in Perry Barr shortly before 4pm on Tuesday.
Firefighters used a ladder to rescue one man from a first floor window of the premises, while another person managed to escape unaided, a fire service spokesman said.
⚠️ Due to a building fire just off Birchfield Road at the junction of Wellington Road #PerryBarr, police and fire service have closed both roads. Please plan ahead as there is heavy congestion on Wellington Road. pic.twitter.com/ZhbZUwq46P
— West Midlands Roads (@WMRoads) January 14, 2020
Eight fire engines were sent to the scene to tackle the blaze, which had spread to about 80% of the building as of 4.50pm, the fire service spokesman said.
“They [firefighters at the scene] are describing it as a severe fire within a restaurant and bar premises,” a West Midlands Fire Service spokesman told the PA news agency.
Additional firefighters were sent to the scene in north Birmingham after videos of the blaze were sent to the fire service before the first crews arrived, the spokesman said.
West Midlands Police said on Twitter that Birchfield Road and Wellington Road had been closed due to the blaze.
