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Crews tackle major fire as people told avoid area Arson probe after car hits shop before fire
(about 1 hour later)
Fire crews described the blaze as a "significant fire" A vehicle had to be removed from the front of the store
More than 50 firefighters have tackled a major fire in Birmingham which broke out in a shop and spread to flats above. A major fire that broke out in a Birmingham shop is being treated as arson after a vehicle hit the building, police have said.
It started at the store on Stratford Road, in the Sparkhill area, shortly before 04:55 GMT. Residents in flats above the shop in Sparkhill had to leave their homes after the building was set alight shortly before 04:55 GMT.
West Midlands Fire Service said five people from the flats left their properties and were checked by paramedics, but there were no casualties or injuries reported. At its height, 55 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze on the busy Stratford Road, although there were no injuries reported.
The road has been closed between Formans Road and Nansen Road. Property developer Isaac Zintaan, who has a business in the area, said people who lived nearby told him they heard a loud explosion "like a bomb went off".
Buses operated by National Express West Midlands have also been diverted. Mr Zintaan, 28, said: "[When I arrived] everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke."
A fire service spokesman said: "This was a fire at the front of a retail shop, which spread to shop signage and the bay windows of flats above the shop. He said it appeared a car had rammed a supermarket on the ground flood of the building and footage showed a Land Rover on fire with its rear to the property, as if it had reversed into it.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the shop and flats to search for casualties." A 4x4 was pictured being extracted from the shop by a fire truck and the vehicle appeared charred and warped by the blaze.
Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys after the blaze started in the early hoursAbdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys after the blaze started in the early hours
The fire has since been brought under control, although crews are still working to stop it spreading. An arson investigation is under way by police and fire investigators.
Fire investigators are at the scene working with crews, a police spokesman said. "It's understood a vehicle hit the building," West Midlands Police said in a statement.
On the Sparkhill Neighbourhood page on Facebook, administrator Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys and said Stratford Road and many other side roads remained closed off. "It was set alight, causing the shop and flats above to catch fire."
Residents in flats above the shop in Sparkhill had to leave their homes
A fire service spokesman said the fire at the front of a retail shop spread to shop signage and the bay windows of flats above.
The fire has since been brought under control, although crews remained at the scene.
West Midlands Fire Service sent 10 fire engines, two 4x4 brigade response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform to the scene.
Five people who had to leave the flats were checked by paramedics, but there were no casualties.
The A34 Stratford Road - a main route into Birmingham centre - was closed in both directions during morning rush hour between Formans Road and Nansen Road.
Buses operated by National Express West Midlands were diverted.
On the Sparkhill Neighbourhood page on Facebook, administrator Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys.
The fire closed a main route into Birmingham during the morning rush hourThe fire closed a main route into Birmingham during the morning rush hour
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