Police called in and residents evacuated as 2.30am fire shuts …

An investigation is underway into an early-morning blaze which saw residents evacuated and a road shut off. Firefighters from four stations were scrambled to High Street, in Burntwood, where they found a garage ‘well-alight’.

As reported by StokeonTrentLive ^[1], the fire, which occurred at around 2.30am, resulted in the road staying shut into this morning’s rush-hour. A school on the stretch – St Joseph and St Theresa Catholic Primary – sent an alert to families on how they could access the site.

Now fire crews and police remain at the scene as an investigation into the cause continues. The emergency services have confirmed that the road is now back open.

READ: Latest Stoke-on-Trent forecast as UK set for ‘week of rain in an hour’ | It comes after Storm Debi swept through North Staffordshire ^[2]

READ: GP surgery terror as ‘patient holds knife to receptionist’s throat’ | The practice reports an increase of aggressive behaviour amid hospital backlogs ^[3]

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service ^[4] say they sent crews from Cannock, Chase Terrace, Lichfield and Rugeley to the scene.

A spokesman said: “A garage was well-alight and was extinguished using a fire hydrant and hose reel jets by 8.30am. Neighbouring buildings were also evacuated to make sure everyone was safe. No one was injured. Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police ^[5] closed the road at the time, but it has since been re-opened. Fire crews remain at the scene with Staffordshire Police to find out the cause of the fire.”

Police are urging witnesses to get in touch. A spokesman said: “The fire was extinguished by fire crews who helped to prevent the fire from spreading. We helped to evacuate nearby residents to make sure they were safe. No one was injured and officers and fire crews remain at the scene. Anyone who has any information, CCTV or dashcam footage that could help with our inquiries, should contact us.”

Witnesses can call 101 and quote incident 052 of November 14.

References

^{^} As reported by StokeonTrentLive (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Latest Stoke-on-Trent forecast as UK set for ‘week of rain in an hour’ | It comes after Storm Debi swept through North Staffordshire (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} GP surgery terror as ‘patient holds knife to receptionist’s throat’ | The practice reports an increase of aggressive behaviour amid hospital backlogs (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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