A fire at Five Ways Pharmacy in Birmingham has forced the business to shut for more than a week after an early morning blaze broke out on Friday, July 3.
Fire incident details
The fire started at the pharmacy on St Vincent Street West in the city centre just after 8.30am. West Midlands Fire Service dispatched crews from Ladywood and Handsworth, with the first team arriving within three minutes of being mobilised.
Fire officers discovered that a piece of industrial equipment had caught fire. The flames were already out when crews arrived, but they used a CO2 extinguisher to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. The scene was cleared by 10.35am.
Pharmacy closure and patient advice
Five Ways Pharmacy announced it would remain closed until Monday, July 13, due to the damage. In a phone message, the pharmacy said: “Unfortunately, the pharmacy is currently closed due to unforeseen circumstances following a fire at our premises. We expect to reopen and resume normal service from 9am on Monday, 13th of July.”
Patients needing medication urgently were advised to call NHS 111 to request an emergency prescription, which could be issued to another local pharmacy. The message added: “If you require your medication before we reopen, please hang up and dial 111 to contact the NHS and request an emergency prescription. They can arrange for your prescription to be issued to another local pharmacy where you will be able to collect your medication.”
For urgent assistance during pharmacy hours, patients can call 0121 630 2680 and press 9 to speak to a team member. The pharmacy apologised for the inconvenience, stating: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen.”
