Police responding to an early morning fire at a Birmingham tower block made a significant crime discovery, uncovering a cannabis farm within the building.
Emergency Response to Ninth Floor Blaze
Emergency services were called to Coniston Crescent in the Hamstead area of Great Barr, Birmingham, at around 6.20am on Monday, January 12. The incident involved a fire on the ninth floor of an 11-storey residential block.
Eight fire service vehicles, including six fire engines and two 4x4 brigade response vehicles, attended the scene, with the first crew arriving within five minutes. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus successfully extinguished the accidental blaze, which was confined to a single flat.
Unexpected Police Discovery
While West Midlands Police officers were on site assisting their fire service colleagues, they conducted routine checks of neighbouring properties. During these searches, they made an unexpected find in a flat adjacent to the fire-damaged one.
A cannabis cultivation site containing 16 plants was discovered. The police have confirmed that the flat where the fire started was different from the one containing the cannabis farm. No arrests have been made at this stage, and inquiries are ongoing.
Residents Evacuated Safely
As a precaution, residents were evacuated from the tower block during the emergency response. Fire crews checked three neighbouring flats for any fire spread but confirmed they were clear of damage.
Thankfully, there were no casualties or injuries reported from the incident. The ambulance service, which sent a critical care paramedic and other resources, confirmed no one required medical treatment.
A single fire crew from Handsworth remained at the scene to damp down any remaining hotspots. Police officers also stayed to assist and to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the fire.
Authorities are appealing for information. A police spokesperson stated: "Anyone who knows more about who might be responsible for the cannabis grow can call 101 quoting log 441 of 12-Jan."
