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-24425726
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| 'Severe' fire destroys Birmingham New Canal Street cafe | 'Severe' fire destroys Birmingham New Canal Street cafe |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Investigations are under way into the cause of a fire which destroyed a cafe near Birmingham city centre. | |
| Five engines were sent to the "severe" blaze at the former Birmingham Dogs Home building in New Canal Street at 06:40 BST. | Five engines were sent to the "severe" blaze at the former Birmingham Dogs Home building in New Canal Street at 06:40 BST. |
| New Canal Street was closed and police said that Community Support Officers are "managing the scene of the fire". | New Canal Street was closed and police said that Community Support Officers are "managing the scene of the fire". |
| West Midlands Police said they are working with the fire service to investigate the cause of the blaze. | West Midlands Police said they are working with the fire service to investigate the cause of the blaze. |
| There were reports of an explosion and people were evacuated from nearby properties. | There were reports of an explosion and people were evacuated from nearby properties. |
| Eyewitnesses said the building "looked like a bomb had hit it". | Eyewitnesses said the building "looked like a bomb had hit it". |
| Simon Price, the general manager of Birmingham Dogs Home, which is now based in Digbeth, said the organisation had left the building in 1987. | Simon Price, the general manager of Birmingham Dogs Home, which is now based in Digbeth, said the organisation had left the building in 1987. |
| He said: "It's such a shame to see the building in such a state today. | He said: "It's such a shame to see the building in such a state today. |
| "I believe it's a listed building. Either way, it's a part of Birmingham's history and it's a real shame to see it in such a sorry state." | "I believe it's a listed building. Either way, it's a part of Birmingham's history and it's a real shame to see it in such a sorry state." |
| 'Flames rising' | 'Flames rising' |
| Alan Poole, who works at Central Flowers opposite the cafe, said staff there had now returned to the building after having been evacuated from it. | Alan Poole, who works at Central Flowers opposite the cafe, said staff there had now returned to the building after having been evacuated from it. |
| "We saw a few flames rising from the building," he said. | "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." | "Luckily it did not spread over to us but, for a while, it looked as if it would." |
| Paul Burnham, 47, said he was taking his car to a garage when he noticed the street had been cordoned off. | Paul Burnham, 47, said he was taking his car to a garage when he noticed the street had been cordoned off. |
| "It looked like a bomb had hit it," he said. | "It looked like a bomb had hit it," he said. |
| The roads around the scene of the fire, which is to the east of the city centre, are likely to be affected for some time, the service said. | The roads around the scene of the fire, which is to the east of the city centre, are likely to be affected for some time, the service said. |
| Station commander Steve Harris said the fire service was working with the cafe's owner to establish how the fire started. | Station commander Steve Harris said the fire service was working with the cafe's owner to establish how the fire started. |
| However, he added that "100% of the building" had been affected. | However, he added that "100% of the building" had been affected. |
| Earlier the fire service tweeted that a loud explosion had been heard but said the blaze was "beginning to die down", and they had left the scene. | Earlier the fire service tweeted that a loud explosion had been heard but said the blaze was "beginning to die down", and they had left the scene. |