School closed as firefighters battle 'third arson in a week' on Birmingham street
Firefighters have been tackling a large blaze at a warehouse in England.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said it sent eight fire engines and support crews to the blaze at an industrial unit in Reddings Lane, Tyseley, Birmingham, at about 4am today.
The brigade said its crews managed to surround the building, containing the flames, and stopping it from spreading any further.
However, Chief Fire Officer Phil Loach said the blaze had shut a large nearby school, with “several small businesses affected”, and the street was now likely to be closed for “most of the day”.
Mr Loach also said the fire could have been started deliberately.
“At Reddings Lane, crews are working hard to stop fire spreading to school. (It is) Believed to be the third arson attack in a week,” he said.
Firefighters were also working at the scene to cool a large storage tank, thought to contain diesel.
In a statement on Yardleys School’s website, parents of the 900 secondary pupils were told the doors would remain shut throughout today after advice from the fire service.
“The school is closed today due to a large fire in an adjacent industrial unit on Reddings Lane,” it read.
“The chief fire officer has instructed us to close the site to all staff and students because of access restrictions.”
