Emergency services were called to a home in Bloxwich, Walsall, after flames tore through the mid-terraced “cannabis factory” with two people badly burned
This is the dramatic moment a suspected “cannabis factory” exploded leaving two men with serious burn injuries.
Around 65 firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze. Two badly injured men were later found elsewhere and were taken to hospital for treatment. Shocking video footage shows the impact of the blast and the immediate aftermath as flames tore through the two storey mid-terraced property.
Emergency services initially rushed to Bloxwich, Walsall, on Monday evening at around 9.30pm after flames tore through the mid-terraced building. Two men were also captured on camera fleeing the scene across a grass verge as concerned neighbours gathered outside in the street.
Paramedics were called to another address two hours later in Willenhall, three miles away and found two men with serious burns. They were taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where they remain undergoing treatment.
The original blast in Walsall alerted neighbour Hasnath Miah, 43, a dad-of-four, said he rushed outside on Monday night after hearing what he thought was a “bomb blast.”
He added: “I was just on my laptop, my son was doing some university work for his dissertation. Then all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a bomb blast.
“I knew it wasn’t a normal sound so I ran outside and could see straight away these flames taking hold.
“These two guys then ran away from the house and up the street – one was in a blue t-shirt, the other was in white.
“And then from then on it was just a case of the fire spreading and engulfing the house for about ten minutes before the fire service got here.
“Only they will know what caused it but it all looks weird to me – for the whole of the top of the house to be destroyed like that while the downstairs is OK is not normal.
“We moved from London from a high rise in 2018 due to Grenfell and this happens here and now I don’t know when I can go back inside my home. The whole community is in major shock.”
The neighbour living next door, who didn’t want to be named, said he was walking back to the property after taking his wife to work when the house ‘exploded,’ sending debris towards him.
He said: “It was very dramatic I saw two people running from the property but it has caused extensive damage to our property as well.
“Walsall Council were really good in arranging overnight accommodation. I’m not sure what is going to happen now.”
Donna Titley, the church warden at St Thomas’ on adjacent Cresswell Crescent said she was cleaning when they heard a ‘massive bang’ and came out to see a ‘scene of devastation’.
She said: “There was obviously a lot of people had come out of their homes and they were in shock. Not to mention the people on the row of houses which were damaged.
“We kept the church door open for them and anyone who wanted to get a break or a cup of tea and didn’t leave there until 2am.
“I just hope everyone is safe and well and my heart goes out to all those affected.”
West Midlands Police believe the fire was caused by butane gas cannisters exploding and are investigating whether the property was being used as a cannabis factory.
A force spokesperson said: “Investigations into a fire at an address in Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich, on Monday evening (28 April) are continuing.
“We believe the fire was caused by butane gas canisters inside the property which exploded.
“We are looking at the possibility the address was used to produce cannabis but we continue to investigate.
“Two men who were taken to hospital with burn injuries remain in a serious condition in hospital.
“Witnesses or anyone with any information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or call 101 quoting log number 5841-280425.
“Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson added: “We continue to work alongside police colleagues to establish the cause of the fire.”