Shops catch fire after car ‘rammed’ into supermarket’ and ‘oil was poured over it’

People have been urged to avoid an area of Birmingham where emergency services are tackling a “significant fire”.

West Midlands Fire Service called multiple crews to Stratford Road in the Sparkhill area just before 5am this morning.

Ten fire engines, two 4×4 response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform helped to put ouf the blaze with around 55 firefighters working to stop the flames spreading.

The buildings affected were a mix of commercial and residential properties, with some residents evacuated, but the fire brigade said nobody had been injured.

On X, the fire service posted: ‘Please avoid the area, where possible.’

Video footage from the scene shows firefighters tackling the blaze, and police setting up a cordon to stop others coming close to the fire.

One witness told Metro: ‘There was a car rammed into a supermarket, set alight and diesel fuel poured into the shop.

‘This ignited the flames even worse. The first floor flats and three shops are all on fire.’

The fire at a mixed commercial and residential premises in Birmingham appears to have been caused by a car which was set alight and rammed into a supermarket, according to a witness.

Local property developer Isaac Zintaan said he was alerted to the fire by residents of his nearby premises after they told him they heard a ‘loud explosion.’

He said: “I have a business close by… the residents of my premises heard a loud explosion – ‘like a bomb went off’ that’s what they described.

‘(When I arrived) everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke.’

Mr Zintaan said it appeared a car had rammed the supermarket on the ground floor of the building and footage taken by him showed a Land Rover on fire with its rear to the property – as if having reversed into it.

In a statement, the fire service said: ‘Shortly before 4.55am on Monday (23 December), we responded to Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham. Ten fire engines, two 4×4 brigade response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform responded, crewed by around 55 firefighters.

‘This was a fire at the front of a retail shop, which spread to shop signage and the bay windows of flats above the shop. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the shop and flats to search for casualties.

‘Five people from the flats had left their properties and received checks from attending paramedics. There were no casualties or injuries and everyone has been accounted for.

‘Firefighters have made good progress at the scene and the fire is under control. The hydraulic aerial platform remains in use as crews work to prevent fire spread. Two fire engines remain at the scene.

‘Police colleagues are in attendance. Stratford Road is closed in both directions from Formans Road to Nansen Road.

‘Fire Investigators are at the scene, working with crews.’

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