AROUND 50 firefighters battles a severe fire on the 11th floor of a high rise tower block in Coventry.
The devastating blaze broke out at Samuel Vale House, Saint Nicholas Street, around 4pm yesterday.
Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control started to receive multiple 999 calls at 4.12pm reporting a fire in the 16-storey building in Radford.
Several fire engines, 4×4 brigade response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform responded, with the first crew arriving within five minutes.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus successfully extinguished the fire, which was confirmed to be out by 5.40pm.
The fire affected all of the flat it broke out in with smoke spreading to some flats above.
People evacuated
Firefighters evacuated a number of people from their flats, but several were able to stay in their homes. Those evacuated are being looked after in a nearby church.
St Nicholas Road remained closed as of 6pm, when plans were being made to reduce the number of crews at the scene.
West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended.
The emergency servicea are liaising with Citizen Housing following the fire.
