A significant fire erupted at a recently reopened pub in the West Midlands overnight, with preliminary investigations pointing to a possible link with a suspected cannabis cultivation site.
Fire Crews Battle Intense Blaze
Firefighters from Canley, Binley, and Solihull were dispatched to The Railway Inn on Station Road in Balsall Common shortly before 8pm on Friday, January 16. They arrived to find a severe fire, with dramatic footage showing flames shooting from a window and thick smoke billowing from the building.
The West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that crews worked to bring the substantial blaze under control. A spokesperson for the service took to social media platform X during the incident, stating: "We have four crews in attendance at Station Road, Balsall Common, where they have responded to a fire. Please avoid the area, where possible."
Evidence Points to Illegal Activity
As fire investigators began their work, a concerning discovery was made. The fire service told local media that initial inquiries suggested the fire may have been connected to a 'potential cannabis factory' within the premises. A key piece of evidence supporting this line of inquiry was that the electricity supply to the property had been illegally bypassed, a common hallmark of such illicit operations.
Following the fire, the scene was handed over to West Midlands Police, who sealed off the pub to allow for a full investigation. The force has been contacted for further comment on the ongoing probe.
Pub's Recent Reopening and Aftermath
The Railway Inn had only reopened its doors to the public last August after a period of temporary closure. The fire has forced it to close once again, with the building remaining shut on the morning of Saturday, January 17.
Authorities have confirmed that, fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the intense blaze. The incident has left the local community in shock, with the future of the recently revived pub now uncertain as police and fire investigators continue their work to establish the full cause and circumstances of the fire.
