Overview
- A gas barbecue in a garden on Feilding Close in Walsgrave on Sowe started a fire that spread to a shed and then to three terraced houses, a cause the West Midlands Fire Service has ruled accidental.
- A large response from fire crews peaked with ten appliances, 45 firefighters and an aerial platform, and 28 firefighters worked in breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze from front and rear.
- Firefighters removed around a quarter of the roof above the three homes, stayed on scene into the evening to damp down hotspots, and carried out revisits overnight to check for rekindling.
- One person was assessed for minor burns by ambulance staff and discharged at the scene and there were no serious injuries; police attendance was limited to traffic management.
- Officials used the incident to warn about the risks of gas barbecues and accelerants and residents should expect follow-up checks and local advice as recovery and damage assessments continue.