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Arson probe after car hits shop before fire Arson probe after car hits shop before fire
(32 minutes later)
A vehicle had to be removed from the front of the storeA vehicle had to be removed from the front of the store
A major fire that broke out in a Birmingham shop is being treated as arson after a vehicle hit the building, police have said. A major fire that broke out in a Birmingham shop is being treated as arson after a vehicle is understood to have hit the building before being set alight, police have said.
Residents in flats above the shop in Sparkhill had to leave their homes after the building was set alight shortly before 04:55 GMT. The blaze, which started at the store on Stratford Road, in the Sparkhill area, shortly before 04:55 GMT, then spread to flats above.
At its height, 55 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze on the busy Stratford Road, although there were no injuries reported. Residents were forced to leave their homes. Although five people were checked over by paramedics, there were no injuries reported.
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". Local businessman Isaac Zintaan said people who lived nearby told him they heard a loud explosion "like a bomb went off".
Mr Zintaan, 28, said: "[When I arrived] everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke." The 28-year-old, said: "[When I arrived] everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke."
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.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.
A 4x4 was pictured being extracted from the shop by a fire truck and the vehicle appeared charred and warped by the blaze.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
An arson investigation is under way by police and fire investigators.An arson investigation is under way by police and fire investigators.
"It's understood a vehicle hit the building," West Midlands Police said in a statement. At its height, 55 firefighters were at the scene. The fire has since been brought under control, although crews remain at the scene.
"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.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.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.On the Sparkhill Neighbourhood page on Facebook, administrator Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys.
Residents in flats above the shop in Sparkhill had to leave their homes
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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