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| Community 'shock' as Stourbridge businesses hit by large blaze | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A blaze was reported on Hayes Lane, in the Lye area of Stourbridge | A blaze was reported on Hayes Lane, in the Lye area of Stourbridge |
| A large fire burned at a number of commercial properties in Stourbridge on Saturday evening, leaving one business owner in "panic" and nearby residents "shocked" amid the sound of explosions and an interrupted power supply. | A large fire burned at a number of commercial properties in Stourbridge on Saturday evening, leaving one business owner in "panic" and nearby residents "shocked" amid the sound of explosions and an interrupted power supply. |
| Ten crews attended the scene on Hayes Lane in Lye, working through the night to extinguish the flames, with four crews remaining on Sunday to monitor for hotspots. | Ten crews attended the scene on Hayes Lane in Lye, working through the night to extinguish the flames, with four crews remaining on Sunday to monitor for hotspots. |
| West Midlands Fire Service said investigations into the cause of the blaze, which had affected several businesses, were under way. | West Midlands Fire Service said investigations into the cause of the blaze, which had affected several businesses, were under way. |
| Ajmal Waheed and Asim Mehmood, owners of Lye Tyres, one of the business premises involved, told the BBC they were "heartbroken". | Ajmal Waheed and Asim Mehmood, owners of Lye Tyres, one of the business premises involved, told the BBC they were "heartbroken". |
| Mr Mehmood said he was busy with a customer when he heard some "crazy noises" outside. | Mr Mehmood said he was busy with a customer when he heard some "crazy noises" outside. |
| He said an adjacent property had a "massive fire" and they left the premises quickly. | He said an adjacent property had a "massive fire" and they left the premises quickly. |
| "I was panicking, it was a very bad feeling at the time," he said. | "I was panicking, it was a very bad feeling at the time," he said. |
| The fire service said there had been no casualties or injuries linked to the incident which was reported to the control room at about 17:45 GMT. | The fire service said there had been no casualties or injuries linked to the incident which was reported to the control room at about 17:45 GMT. |
| Tracy and Ray Cox praised the quick action of the firefighters and said the blaze escalated quickly | Tracy and Ray Cox praised the quick action of the firefighters and said the blaze escalated quickly |
| Ray and Tracy Cox, who live nearby, said it was "a shock" for the community and they felt sadness for the owners of the small businesses affected. | Ray and Tracy Cox, who live nearby, said it was "a shock" for the community and they felt sadness for the owners of the small businesses affected. |
| Mrs Cox said she was alerted by her son who spotted the fire from their living room window. She said she saw "flames roaring" from a fishing tackle shop. | Mrs Cox said she was alerted by her son who spotted the fire from their living room window. She said she saw "flames roaring" from a fishing tackle shop. |
| She added there were several explosions and the situation "was just getting worse and worse". | She added there were several explosions and the situation "was just getting worse and worse". |
| Praising the fire service, she said she saw "fire engine after fire engine arriving" to get the blaze under control. | Praising the fire service, she said she saw "fire engine after fire engine arriving" to get the blaze under control. |
| Investigations into the cause of the fire are under way | Investigations into the cause of the fire are under way |
| Steve Barrett, a great grandfather who has lived in the road for about 50 years, said the fire had been "really bad" and a fishing tackle shop was among the affected businesses. | Steve Barrett, a great grandfather who has lived in the road for about 50 years, said the fire had been "really bad" and a fishing tackle shop was among the affected businesses. |
| "He'd got loads of stuff in there," Mr Barrett said of the store, of which he was a customer. "Everything's gone. Such a shame. He had worked really hard." | "He'd got loads of stuff in there," Mr Barrett said of the store, of which he was a customer. "Everything's gone. Such a shame. He had worked really hard." |
| Fire station commander Darryll Darkin told the BBC the "big challenge" had been maintaining power supplies for the community while making the area safe. | Fire station commander Darryll Darkin told the BBC the "big challenge" had been maintaining power supplies for the community while making the area safe. |
| "We managed to restore that working with our partners in National Grid," he said. | "We managed to restore that working with our partners in National Grid," he said. |
| "But there are still some electrical challenges due to some building collapses which have affected the local sub station." | "But there are still some electrical challenges due to some building collapses which have affected the local sub station." |
| Steve Barrett said the fire had been "really bad" | Steve Barrett said the fire had been "really bad" |
| West Midlands Police set up road closures which were eventually scaled down, but the force said intermittent closures may appear throughout Sunday to allow crews to work safely. | West Midlands Police set up road closures which were eventually scaled down, but the force said intermittent closures may appear throughout Sunday to allow crews to work safely. |
| The fire service earlier warned nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution, with the public asked to avoid the area if possible. | The fire service earlier warned nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution, with the public asked to avoid the area if possible. |
| Crews worked overnight to bring the fire under control | Crews worked overnight to bring the fire under control |
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