Fire Engulfs Disused College Building in Coventry

COVENTRY, England — Residents of Coventry are being urged to avoid Henley Road following a large fire at a disused college building on Wednesday evening. The blaze, which broke out around 8:00 PM BST, sent thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky, visible from several miles away.

West Midlands Fire Service has deployed twelve crews to battle the flames at the former Henley College site. In a social media post, the fire service advised locals to stay clear of the area for safety reasons. “Please avoid the area, where possible,” the post said.

As firefighters worked to control the fire, police and ambulance crews also arrived at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and fire officials have not released further details. Witnesses reported seeing flames consuming the building, causing traffic disruptions on nearby roads.

Many residents defied warnings and gathered on adjacent streets to watch as the fire raged. “The smoke was overwhelming,” one onlooker remarked. “You could see it from blocks away.”

The site has not been used as an educational institution for several years and had become a location for film productions and emergency service training in recent months.

In the wake of the incident, both the West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Fire Service are expected to provide further updates as they investigate the fire’s cause.