Three fire services send 15 fire engines as fire crews battle college inferno as two teens arrested

Arain suspects arrested as fire crews continue to tackle college building fire

This morning (Wednesday 30 April), eight fire engines, two hydraulic platforms and specialist vehicles remain on scene at Henley Road as fire crews continue to deal with a fire at a former college building. 45 firefighters remain on scene.

At around 7.15pm on Tuesday 29 April, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control received a number of calls about a large fire on #HenleyRoad, #Coventry.

Upon approach to the incident, initial crews requested additional fire engines to attend given the size and scale of the fire.

Fifteen fire engines, which includes three hydraulic platforms, were mobilised and have been working hard to extinguish the fire in a complex five-storey building. Everyone is accounted for.

West Midlands Fire Service initially said “We have had support from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police.
Henley Road is closed between Parcel Road and Deedmore Road.

“We anticipate being on site for some time due to the complexity of the site and fire, and nearby residents and businesses are asked to close their windows and doors and stay away from the area to allow our fire crews to manage the incident and bring it to as quick a conclusion as we are able to.”

In an update this morning they have said “Progress has been made overnight as crews have surrounded the fire and are damping down the fire and tackling hotspots. We expect to be on site at the incident throughout the day and into the evening.

“An electric substation was temporarily shut down overnight to ensure the safety of the site and the substation.

“Henley Road remains closed to traffic between Parcel Road and Deedmore Road, however pedestrian access has been reopened. We continue to urge members of the public to keep their doors and windows closed due to the smoke from the fire and to stay away from the area to allow our firefighters and other agencies to continue their work.”

In an update the fire service added: Evidence collected at the scene by attending WMFS fire investigators indicates that the fire was started deliberately.

Six crews continue to work at the scene, identifying and extinguishing hotspots. Areas of reignition have appeared intermittently throughout the day.

Henley Road remains closed to vehicles, although a plan is being worked on to facilitate its reopening, when resources have scaled down further.

West Midlands Police said: Officers investigating a fire at a disused college building in Coventry have made two arrests.
Two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15 were arrested on suspicion of arson today following the fire at the former college site in Henley Road.

The two remain in custody while our enquiries continue and we will have officers in the area throughout the rest of the day keeping the site secure.

Our investigation into the cause of the fire continues and we are working with partners including the Fire Service and local authority to keep the site secure and protect the public.

We will also be stepping up patrols in the area following recent reports of anti-social behaviour in the area.

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