Another derelict building in Digbeth's Bradford Street has been engulfed by flames, marking the latest in a long series of fires that have plagued the area and raised serious safety concerns.
Nighttime Blaze Contained
West Midlands Fire Service was called to a derelict three-storey building on Bradford Street at approximately 6:20pm on November 8. Crews successfully brought the fire under control within just over an hour, departing the scene by 7:30pm.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident. West Midlands Police attended the scene to manage traffic while firefighters tackled the blaze.
A Pattern of Neglect and Danger
This fire represents another incident in what local residents describe as a dangerous pattern of neglect. The community group 'Friends of Bradford Street' has been vocal about the risks posed by abandoned buildings in the area.
Freedom of Information data obtained by the group earlier this year revealed there have been 28 fire service callouts to just four derelict sites on Bradford Street since 2021.
In a social media post from September, the group directly questioned why the situation has been allowed to persist, highlighting several critical concerns:
- Each fire callout drains precious time and financial resources from emergency services
- Fire crews should be protecting the community rather than repeatedly attending neglected sites
- Property owners are failing to maintain and secure dangerous buildings
Call for Accountability Before Tragedy Strikes
The local residents' group has emphasised that the problem extends beyond wasted resources to pose a genuine threat to public safety. They note that rough sleepers often seek shelter in these buildings, while young people sometimes use them as gathering spots.
"Every callout shows how close we are to a preventable tragedy," the group warned in their September statement. "The alarm bells have already rung 28 times since 2021, yet nothing has changed."
The community is now calling on Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police to hold property developers and building owners accountable for leaving structures to deteriorate, creating persistent fire hazards in the heart of Digbeth.
With each new fire, residents fear they're moving closer to a fatal incident unless immediate action is taken to address the derelict building crisis on Bradford Street.
