A firefighter was forced to sprint for his life after a massive explosion erupted from a commercial unit understood to be packed with fireworks during a major blaze in Walsall.
Dramatic Footage Captures Terrifying Blast
The incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, December 4, at the Manor Industrial Estate on Pleck Road. Footage shared on social media captured the heart-stopping moment a huge explosion lit up the night, sending a shower of glowing debris raining down as the firefighter scrambled to retreat to a safe distance.
Flames had already torn through the unit, belching thick smoke into the sky, with loud bangs heard from inside as the fire took hold. The unit was "understood to contain fireworks, stock and wooden pallets," creating a highly volatile and dangerous situation for emergency crews.
Major Emergency Response Deployed
In total, 55 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the fire, which broke out at around 8.30pm. The scale of the operation required innovative measures, including using water from the nearby canal to help douse the flames. A hydraulic aerial platform was also deployed to combat the fire from above.
As a precaution, West Midlands Police closed Pleck Road in both directions, urging the public to stay away from the area for their own safety.
Ongoing Operations and Road Closures
In an update posted just before midnight, West Midlands Fire Service reported that crews were "continuing to make steady progress." A multi-agency briefing had been held with partners to coordinate the safe management of the ongoing incident.
Firefighters continued to use high-pressure jets to suppress remaining hotspots. The service planned to begin scaling down the number of fire engines at the scene to five, plus the aerial platform, by approximately 12.30 am.
The authority reiterated that Pleck Road remained closed and continued to advise people to avoid the area while operations continued.
