A fire has broken out at the old Birmingham Wheels race track - which is set to be Birmingham City FC's new ‘super stadium’. The blaze was sparked at the Birmingham Wheels Park in Adderley Road South at around 6.30pm today, Tuesday, June 4.
Some five fire crews from West Midlands Fire Service have been sent to the scene. Black smoke has been seen billowing from the site.
Residents living nearby have been advised to keep their windows and doors shut. This is a live breaking incident with updates to follow below.
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Nick Horner
End of updates for this evening
Thanks for following our live blog on the fire at the former Birmingham Wheels Park since bought by Birmingham City FC owners, Knighthead Capital. The fire involves two wooden portacabins and tyres at the former motorsport site. 'Good progress; has been made but residents living nearby have been urged to keep windows and doors shot due to smoke from the site.
We will provide the latest early on Wednesday (June 5) morning. To get the latest on breaking news in Birmingham join our BirminghamLive WhatsApp community.
Nick Horner
'Fire in two of seven buildings' - latest update from fire control
West Midlands Fire Service has provided an update on the blaze at the former Birmingham Wheels Park site in Adderley Road South. A spokeswoman said: "We have still got five appliances there, but one small vehicle used for communications back to us has gone.
"There are 22 firefighters and one station commander tackling the fire. The fire is limited to the centre two buildings of a seven-building block. Cadent gas has attended an said there is no gas on the site.
"The electricity board is on site now regarding isolating the electrics. Network Rail has said there is no damage or risk to the overhead lines.
"It was questioned who owned the site but has been confirmed it is Birmingham City FC which owns the land and security are now on site."
Nick Horner
Birmingham Wheels Park 'bought for £51 million'
Our people and politics editor, Jane Haynes, revealed the Birmingham Wheels Park was bought for £51 million. But that owners Birmingham City Council missed out on £30 million extra, which had been offered for the site less than two years before.
The city council said it got the 'best market value for the site at the time of sale'. Read more on the deal here.
Nick Horner
'Good progress being made' but warning issued over smoke
West Midlands Fire Service has issued an update as its firefighters continue to tackle a blaze at the former Birmingham Wheels Park recently bought by Blues owners Knighthead Capital. The fire service said 'good progress' is being made tackling the fire, but as it involves tyres - smoking is proving an issue.
In the update, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the fire service said: "Our crews are making good progress in extinguishing the fire at the Birmingham Wheels site. Fire involves tyres and 2 wooden structures. 4 jets are in use, but the fire is producing a large smoke plume, so local residents are advised to keep doors and windows closed."
Nick Horner
Knighthead Capital bought the Wheels Park site in April
Birmingham City FC's owners bought the Wheels Park site in April and plan to build a new 'world class' ground for the Blues. The aim is to build a new Sports Quarter with the ground, training facilities for all its teams, community pitches, an academy as well as commercial space.
More details on the purchase and the plans to redevelop the Birmingham Wheels site can be found here.
Nick Horner
'Portacabins and tyres on fire'
A fire control spokeswoman has confirmed to BirminghamLive that the fire at the former Birmingham Wheels Park was alerted to West Midlands Fire Service shortly after 6.30pm on Tuesday (June 4). The spokeswoman said: "We were called at 6.31pm to a fire at the Birmingham Wheels site in Adderley Road South.
"The incident is involving portacabins and a large amount of tyres on fire. We have sent five crews from Ward End, Highgate, Aston and Erdington to the scene."
Nick Horner
'Fire can be seen from a distance'
Eyewitness Musti Khan has contacted BirminghamLive and sent a brief clip of the fire incident unfolding at the former Birmingham Wheels Park which has recently been bought by Birmingham City Football Club as the site for the club's proposed new ground.
Musti said: "The old Birmingham wheels on Adderley Road South is on fire. Fire services are there fire can be seen from a distance."
Nick Horner
'Close doors and windows'
Householders living near the Birmingham Wheels Park in Saltley have been told to keep their windows and doors shut as smoke billows from the site after a fire involving tyres. West Midlands Fire Service has issued the warning after saying it has sent five crews to the scene.
In a Tweet the emergency service said: "We have 5 appliances in attendance at the Birmingham Wheels Park in Saltley. Crews are working hard to extinguish the fire which involves tyres. Local residents are advised to close doors and windows."
We have 5 appliances in attendance at the Birmingham Wheels Park in Saltley. Crews are working hard to extinguish the fire which involves tyres. Local residents are advised to close doors and windows
— West Midlands Fire Service (@WestMidsFire) June 4, 2024
