Firefighters rescue 12 adults and children in high rise blaze in Birmingham city centre

West Midlands firefighters rescued 12 people from a blaze in a high rise building in Birmingham city centre.

A single flat in the Orion Building on Navigation Street, near the red cages car park, caught fire on Saturday evening (May 27) as the huge Pride festival was underway in Smithfield.

WMFS received several 999 calls at 5.35pm and sent 50 firefighters from stations across the city along with two 4.4 Brigade Response Vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform.

The fire service said that they believe the fire started accidentally in one flat on the fifth floor. They said that everyone above the flat was affected by smoke. The fire was extinguished by 7.30pm last night (Saturday, May 27).

Some of the people rescued were given special escape hoods to help them breathe. One person was taken to hospital by ambulance due to the effects of smoke.

The Orion building also hosts businesses including Tamtanga and Sainsbury’s. The incident is ongoing this morning (Sunday, May 28) as firefighters clear smoke from the building. WMFS has advised that as the Orion building is in a busy part of Birmingham city centre there is likely to be disruption until firefighters leave the scene.

They have been checking each flat to reassure residents who stayed at home. Here is WMFS latest statement: “The fire was confirmed to have been extinguished by just after 7.30pm. It is believed to have started accidentally in, and contained to, a flat on the fifth floor of a 12-storey block. That floor and all those above have been affected by smoke.

“A number of people who called 999 received fire survival guidance from Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control. Around a dozen people were rescued by firefighters, some of whom were given special escape hoods to wear to help them breathe. One person is understood to have been taken to hospital by ambulance, suffering from the effects of smoke.

“The site comprises inter-connected tall buildings, of residential and commercial use. It is in a very busy area of the city, where there is likely to be disruption for the rest of the evening until our presence at the scene is reduced.

“We would like to thank local residents, businesses and visitors for their patience and understanding. Firefighters are working from flat to flat, to check on and reassure those residents who stayed in their homes. Our crews are also working to clear smoke from the building.”