After a hot and sunny week, local firefighters had a busy day yesterday as temperatures topped over 26ºC (Friday 29th June).
Cock Hill quarry fire
Crews were called to a large fire on the disused quarry at Cock Hill in Rubery for the third day out of the last five.
After having already visited the site to deal with a fire on Monday (26th June), a larger blaze measuring around 1200 metres by 100 metres was tackled by crews on the following day (Tuesday 27th June). Firefighters worked well and had the fire under control within a few hours.
However, at around 4.40pm yesterday (Friday 29th) crews were called back to the quarry site, to deal with a fire covering around 1800 metres.
Around 25 firefighters in 5 appliances from Northfield, Haden Cross, Stourbridge and Handsworth attended and tackled the blaze using hose reels and beaters. Crews and Birmingham City Council rangers remained on site until around 10pm, checking for hot spots.
Rubery Quarry Fire Friday 29th June 2018
Tower block fire
At around 7pm crews from Kings Norton, Highgate and Solihull were called to a fire in a rubbish chute in a Selly oak tower block. The fire filled the block, in Abdon Avenue, with smoke but firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and there were thankfully no reports of any injuries.
Waste plant fire
Then at around 9pm, a large fire at a waste processing plant in West Bromwich drew crews from around the West Midlands with 8 appliances and more than 40 firefighters and officers – including Northfield’s Station Commander – tackling the blaze of burning rubber waste at its height. Four crews were still on site this morning, damping down.
A bit out of our area but for those who are asking about the smoke, unfortunately there appears to be a factory fire in #WestBromwich • 6 pumps on scene. #KeepSafe (Courtesy K Carter) pic.twitter.com/slSZLrfg4Z
— B31 Voices (@B31Voices) June 29, 2018
These are just some of the very many jobs crews were called to yesterday. Whatever you’re doing this weekend, please think about fire safety and our dedicated firefighters.
While we’re enjoying the sun (or complaining about the heat!), they’re having to deal with scenes like this…
Crews are separating the the waste material at the treatment plant on #BrandonWay #WestBromwich …JK pic.twitter.com/yD07ypJMvg
— WMFS PICS (@WMFS_PICS) June 29, 2018
A massive THANK YOU To them all
Grass, scrubland and verges… fires in rubbish and out-of-control bonfires…
We’ve attended 315 outdoor fires in the last eight days.
This is up from 249 in the same period last year, a rise of nearly 27 per cent.
PLEASE be #WildFireAware in the #heatwave. pic.twitter.com/EryqjrpaRe— West Midlands Fire (@WestMidsFire) June 29, 2018
Don’t be busted for your bonfire!
Know the rules around what, and when, you can burn in your garden. https://t.co/vyu1LhqkWX #HeatwaveSafe #Heatwave #PlayItCool #WildFireAware pic.twitter.com/Ndf28e1gsz— West Midlands Fire (@WestMidsFire) June 30, 2018