Fire at Burnham Court tower block in Brierley Hill

Fire crews were called to a fire in a lobby of Burnham Court on Lower Derry Street in Brierley Hill just before 10.30pm last night (February 24).

The fire was in the lobby of the of the 13th floor of the 16-storey building and is believed to have been started deliberately, West Midlands Fire Service confirmed.

One man was led to safety and the residents of a flat above the fire decided to evacute.

Nobody was injured in the blaze and the fire did not spread to any flats, the fire service said.

Paramedics did assess several residents who were discharged at the scene.

Smoke also spread to a number of the floors in the building.

Seven fire engines attended the scene from across the Black Country. Photo: Tracey Smith.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “Seven fire engines attended from fire stations in the Black Country, with the first crew arriving in three minutes.

“This was a fire in the lobby area of the 13th floor of the 16-storey building. It is believed to have been started deliberately.

“Fortunately, the fire was small and did not directly affect any flats. No-one was hurt, but smoke did spread to a number of floors.

“We led one man to safety from a flat on the affected floor, and the occupants of a flat on the floor above decided to evacuate. Other residents observed the building’s ‘stay put’ policy.

“The fire was extinguished by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.”

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called by the fire service at 10:42pm to a fire at a property on Lower Derry Street, Brierley Hill.

"We sent the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), one ambulance, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic. Several residents were assessed, however no one required ambulance treatment and they were all discharged at the scene.”