This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20492244
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Crews tackle fire at Langley Green distillery | Crews tackle fire at Langley Green distillery |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Homes have been evacuated as more than 75 firefighters tackle a large fire at a distillery in the Black Country. | Homes have been evacuated as more than 75 firefighters tackle a large fire at a distillery in the Black Country. |
More than 15 crews were sent to the fire at Alcohols Ltd, in Crosswells Road, Langley Green, which started shortly before 10:00 GMT. | More than 15 crews were sent to the fire at Alcohols Ltd, in Crosswells Road, Langley Green, which started shortly before 10:00 GMT. |
A man in his 20s has been taken to hospital, suffering from burns. | |
Some residents said they believed the fire, near a level crossing, had spread to a nearby home. Eyewitnesses have also described hearing explosions. | |
Darren O'Neil, whose house backs on to the factory, said he looked out of his bedroom window and saw the fire burning. | |
He said he then heard a scream and saw someone "covered head to toes in flames". | |
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that a man in his 20s was treated at the scene for burn injuries before being taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. | |
'Very worrying' | |
BBC WM reporter James Bovill, who is at the scene, said there had been several explosions, followed by "fire balls" from the factory. | |
He added there was no sign the fire would be put out "any time soon". | |
Tim Pye, who lives opposite the distillery, said firefighters were dousing down his house. | |
He said after the fire started, he looked out and "just saw orange" and could feel the heat of the fire from his front room. | |
Debbie Horton, who also lives nearby, said: "I don't know anything - what's going to happen to my house, or the cars that are outside. | |
"It's very worrying." | |
People reported seeing thick black smoke from several miles away, including from the M5. | People reported seeing thick black smoke from several miles away, including from the M5. |
West Midlands Police said Crosswells Road, Tat Banks Road, and the Western Road and Vicarage Road junction with Dog Kennel Lane were closed. | West Midlands Police said Crosswells Road, Tat Banks Road, and the Western Road and Vicarage Road junction with Dog Kennel Lane were closed. |
Thompson Road and New Henry Street have also been shut. | Thompson Road and New Henry Street have also been shut. |
Sandwell Borough Council said police were moving people living and working within a 100m radius of the site. | Sandwell Borough Council said police were moving people living and working within a 100m radius of the site. |
Moat Farm Junior School has been opened for refuge for those evacuated from their homes. | Moat Farm Junior School has been opened for refuge for those evacuated from their homes. |
London Midland said the fire was affecting services between Snow Hill and Stourbridge. | London Midland said the fire was affecting services between Snow Hill and Stourbridge. |
It said the Midlands Metro was accepting tickets to the Hawthorns ground, while Network West Midlands was accepting them on its nine, 120 and 127 bus services. | It said the Midlands Metro was accepting tickets to the Hawthorns ground, while Network West Midlands was accepting them on its nine, 120 and 127 bus services. |
Surinder Sohal, who runs a nearby business, said he saw flames that were 40ft to 50ft high. | Surinder Sohal, who runs a nearby business, said he saw flames that were 40ft to 50ft high. |
He said: "It's really, really bad. | He said: "It's really, really bad. |
"It's been burning for about three hours at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any chance of it stopping. You can feel the heat, even standing 300-400 yards away." | "It's been burning for about three hours at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any chance of it stopping. You can feel the heat, even standing 300-400 yards away." |
The Environment Agency also said it was at the scene to check on the environmental impact of the fire. |