Huge blaze in Digbeth industrial unit

Fire services have called the incident ‘severe’.

birmingham blaze digbeth fire news the tab the tab brum West Midlands

Over 100 firefighters and 17 engines are currently tackling a huge blaze that started early this afternoon in the EMR recycling centre in an industrial unit in Clarel Avenue, Birmingham, half a mile from New Street station.

More than 100 calls have been made to 999 regarding the incident, which the West Midlands fire service are labeling as “severe”.

A nearby canal is reportedly being used to supply water to the scene.

The plume of smoke can be seen from a 20 mile radius, and residents near the area have been told to keep windows and doors shut, as the fire is thought to have engulfed approximately 800 tonnes of plastic, metal, and rubber.

The West Midlands Fire Service is reportedly working closely with Environmental Protection officers as part of a “multi-agency response to the fire”, and firefighters are also working to prevent the blaze spreading to other scrap.

Fire services are liaising with both Network Rail and Birmingham Airport due to the smoke plume.

The news comes after a similar incident took place at the recycling centre in August last year.

As of yet, the cause of the fire is unknown.