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Crews tackle 'severe' Birmingham city centre fire Crews tackle 'severe' Birmingham city centre fire
(about 1 hour later)
Firefighters have been tackling what they describe as a "severe" blaze near Birmingham city centre. A "severe" blaze has broken out at a cafe near Birmingham city centre.
West Midlands Fire Service said five engines were called to the fire in a building on New Canal Street, in the east of the city centre, at 06:40 BST. West Midlands Fire Service said five engines were called to the blaze at the former Birmingham Dog's Home building in New Canal Street at 06:40 BST.
A spokesperson from the service said 25 firefighters were at the building, which is thought to be empty. A spokesperson from the service said 25 firefighters were at the building, which is near Moor Street station, and that no-one had been injured.
New Canal Street has been closed in both directions near the Fazeley Street junction.New Canal Street has been closed in both directions near the Fazeley Street junction.
The surrounding roads are likely to be affected for some time, the service said. 'Loud explosion'
The fire service tweeted that a loud explosion was heard and that "100% of the building" was affected. Alan Poole works at Central Flowers, which is opposite the cafe.
Earlier, it added that that the blaze was "beginning to die down". He said staff at the business had now returned to the building after having been evacuated.
"We saw a few flames rising from the building," he said. "Luckily it did not spread over to us but, for a while, it looked as if it would."
The surrounding roads around the scene of the fire, which is in the east of the city centre, are likely to be affected for some time, the service said.
Station commander Steve Harris said they were working with the cafe's owner to establish how the fire started but that "100% of the building" was affected.
Earlier the fire service tweeted that a loud explosion was heard and that the blaze was "beginning to die down".