More than 60 firefighters tackled factory blaze

More than 60 firefighters worked to put out a huge factory fire in Oldbury on Saturday.

West Midlands Fire Service said it was called to a large industrial unit fire at Total Plastics on Rood End Road Industrial Estate at about 05:30 BST.

At its height, ten engines and two hydraulic platforms were on scene, along with specialist units. The service said 85% of the building was involved in the blaze.

The fire was brought under control shortly after 11:00 BST on Saturday, and the service added it would return to the site in the coming days to monitor for hotspots and begin investigations into the cause.

The fire service said it had been a difficult incident, because the factory, which manufactures windows and doors, was structurally unsafe to enter.

It said crews had to tackle the fire from the outside.

Station commander, Steve Lees said: "It was a really well developed fire.

"There was a lot of heat and smoke being generated and it quickly burnt through the roof."

Sandwell Council will arrange for the decontamination of a nearby road, after it said on Saturday that the premises may have had an asbestos cement roof.

The authority said it was possible that some of the materials had been released in the smoke plume and deposited in ash and debris onto a section of Pel Crescent.

However, it added, the UK Health Security Agency said it was of no particular health concern.

It added that if ash or debris from the fire was found by residents, they should leave it alone and call the authority. If it is absolutely necessary to move it, the council advised damping down the debris using water, using protective gloves and to double-bag any debris.

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