Firefighters battled through the night after a major blaze erupted at a commercial unit in Walsall, understood to be packed with fireworks. The incident, which triggered loud explosions, caused significant structural damage but resulted in no casualties.
Night of Flames and Explosions
West Midlands Fire Service was called to the Manor Industrial Estate on Pleck Road just before 8.30pm on Thursday, December 4. Crews arrived to find the unit well alight, with reports indicating it contained a large quantity of fireworks alongside stock and wooden pallets. Throughout the night, residents reported hearing explosions coming from the site as the fire took hold.
At the height of the emergency, the fire service deployed a total of 55 firefighters to bring the intense flames under control. Their efforts continued into the early hours, focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties on the industrial estate.
Scene of Devastation and Ongoing Response
By Friday morning (December 5), the scale of the damage was clear. The roof of the unit was completely destroyed by the ferocious fire. Two fire engines remained on site throughout the morning, damping down remaining hotspots to ensure the blaze was fully extinguished.
A structural engineer was due to attend the scene to assess the stability of the damaged building. Pleck Road, which was closed overnight for safety reasons, has now been re-opened to traffic. However, fire investigation teams are expected to continue their work at the site over the weekend and into next week to determine the exact cause of the fire.
No Injuries Reported
Despite the dramatic scenes and the dangerous nature of the contents, the fire service confirmed a positive outcome: there were no casualties or injuries reported as a result of the incident. The successful response ensured the safety of both the public and the emergency service personnel involved in the challenging operation.
