A supermarket in Birmingham city centre had to be evacuated after a fire managed to break out in a self-service checkout machine.
The incident took place in a supermarket, a Tesco in New Street – located in Birmingham city centre – with a fire erupted during the lunchtime rush.
West Midlands Ambulance Service were quick to respond and sent both paramedics and a hazard team to the scene, after reports of smoke and a possible chemical incident came flooding through.
A spokesperson confirmed that there was one patient – believed to be an employee of Tesco – who was assessed and discharged accordingly.
Shortly after 12:30 midday, the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) picked up a call from the police informing them about the situation.
The WMFS also stated that the fire was quite small, and was put out by the time a crew had actually arrived at the scene – though a small amount of people had been complaining about irritation as a result of it.
Engineers from Tesco were in attendance, but a fire spokesperson said that the reason why the fire started is still unknown.
Supermarket in Birmingham, England evacuated following fire at self-service machine
About Fire Buyer
International Fire Buyer is the leading authority in global passive and active fire content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the fire sector.
To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team.

