Police are investigating after eight properties were set alight in a suspected arson attack in Kings Norton, Birmingham. The blaze broke out on Tuesday evening at around 8.30pm in Ithon Grove, with more than 40 firefighters from nine fire stations called to the scene.
West Midlands Fire Service described the incident as a “very severe fire” which spread through the roof space of the terraced houses. Crews from Kings Norton, Northfield, Bournbrook, Billesley, Hay Mills, Woodgate Valley, Highgate, Haden Cross and Smethwick battled the flames, remaining at the scene until 7.24am on Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for the fire service confirmed that police were in attendance and that the fire is believed to have been started deliberately. “It was a very severe fire which was in the roof space of eight terraced properties. We believe it to be an arson attack,” she said.
The incident occurred less than an hour after another significant fire near Birmingham city centre, where around 200 tyres were set alight at a site off Crawford Street in Saltley at approximately 8pm. Two fire crews attended that blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows smoke pouring from the row of derelict houses. No injuries have been reported, and investigations into both fires are ongoing.
