Oldbury fire: roads closed as firefighters fight blaze at semi-detached home

Fire fighters have been called out to a blaze at a semi-detached home in Oldbury this afternoon (Tuesday, January 31) - with roads closed and people asked to avoid the area. A man in his 70s died in the fire.

The West Midlands Fire Service said they were called at 1:21pm to reports of smoke and flames coming from the first floor of the property on Defford Drive.

Crews from Oldbury, Haden Cross, Handsworth and Smethwick attended the incident, with the first crew arriving in under four minutes.

The fire initially broke out in the first-floor bedroom of a residential property and has affected 100% of the first floor and 50% of the property overall.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus are tackling the fire using a hose reel jet and covering jet.

The West Midlands Fire Service said at 3pm: “Good progress has been made at this incident. Our crews have extinguished the fire.

“A multi-agency brief is due to take place shortly with attending police and ambulance crews.

“Our crews continue to make the scene safe and investigations into the cause will commence soon.”