Fire crews were called to an incident in Kingstanding on Tuesday evening that left more than 100 Birmingham homes without power. The emergency response involved multiple fire engines and officers from Western Power Distribution, who worked to make the area safe and restore electricity.
The incident occurred on Warren Farm Road, where a fire broke out in an underground electricity cable. The blaze caused significant disruption, cutting power to approximately 120 properties in the surrounding area. Crews from West Midlands Fire Service arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised, just before 7pm.
Underground cable fire causes widespread outage
The fire was contained to the underground cable, but it posed a risk to nearby properties and pedestrians. Firefighters used specialist equipment to extinguish the flames and ensure the area was safe. A cordon was put in place while Western Power Distribution engineers assessed the damage and began repair work.
According to a spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service, "The incident involved an underground electricity cable that had caught fire. Our crews worked alongside Western Power Distribution to isolate the supply and prevent further damage. There were no reports of any injuries."
Residents in the affected streets reported losing power just before 7pm, with many taking to social media to share updates. Some said they had been told by the power company that electricity would be restored within a few hours, but others expressed concern about the disruption, especially for vulnerable residents and those with medical needs.
Restoration efforts and community impact
Western Power Distribution deployed engineers to the site to carry out emergency repairs. The company said that the fault affected a medium-voltage cable and that they were working as quickly as possible to restore supply. By late evening, power had been returned to the majority of homes, but a small number were still without electricity while final repairs were completed.
The incident highlighted the fragility of the local electricity network and the importance of quick response from emergency services. Local councillors also urged residents to check on elderly neighbours and those with young children, advising them to keep warm and safe during the outage.
No further incidents were reported, and the road was reopened to traffic once the scene was made safe. Western Power Distribution thanked residents for their patience and reminded the public to report any downed cables or power cuts to their emergency hotline.
