Birmingham mail fire

The Birmingham Mail fire refers to a significant fire that occurred on February 11, 2019, at the Birmingham Mail's printing facility in Birmingham, England. Here's a brief summary of the incident:

What happened?

A fire broke out at the Birmingham Mail's printing facility, located on the city's Digbeth canal, around 2:30 am. The blaze is believed to have started in the facility's storage area, where paper and printing equipment were kept. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the building and causing significant damage.

Emergency response

Firefighters from the West Midlands Fire Service responded to the incident, with multiple crews arriving on the scene to battle the blaze. The fire was brought under control around 5:30 am, but not before it had caused significant damage to the facility.

Injuries and damage

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the fire, although several firefighters were treated for minor injuries. The fire caused significant damage to the printing facility, with estimates suggesting that the damage could be in the millions of pounds.

Impact on the newspaper

The Birmingham Mail is a daily newspaper that has been in publication since 1873. The fire forced the newspaper to suspend publication for several days while the facility was repaired and equipment was replaced. The newspaper's editorial team worked from temporary offices during this time, with digital editions of the paper continuing to be published.

Investigation and aftermath

An investigation into the cause of the fire was launched by the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The investigation found that the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault in the facility's storage area. The HSE subsequently issued a number of improvement notices to the newspaper's parent company, Reach plc, to address safety concerns at the facility.

The Birmingham Mail has since resumed publication from its temporary offices, with plans to rebuild and refurbish the damaged facility. The incident highlighted the importance of fire safety and emergency preparedness in the printing industry.