“2 quick-thinking security guards at a Solihull shopping center helped to evacuate terrified residents after a fire tore through the roof of a nearby tower block are hailed as heroes.
The fearless guards at Chelmsley Wood Shopping Center were on patrol when they spotted the flames and smoke coming from the top of the building in nearby Moorend Avenue.
As shoppers watched the drama in horror, the brave duo sprinted across to the block, which is managed by Solihull Community Housing (SCH) and alerted the concierge to the danger.
The plucky twosome, who would not be named, swiftly took to the stairs and banged on the doors of the flats in the 10 story building.
Residents told the Birmingham Mail they had been unaware of the blaze which could be seen for miles away after the fire took hold at around 1.45pm.
Twenty-five firefighters tackled the incident and gave oxygen therapy to one man who was injured.
Residents from the top two floors were evacuated.
One of the security guards said: “There didn’t seem to be a fire alarm in the block.
“We tried to find one so that we could actually hit a panic button.
“My colleague went to the top floor and I started on the fifth so we worked it between us.
“We were there for about five to 10 minutes but it seemed longer.
“We didn’t think about it, we just went in to help. Then the fire brigade took over.”
Liberty Chester, who has a four year old daughter Lacie, said she didn’t feel safe.
“I’m just glad Lacie wasn’t there,” she said.
“If she had been she would not have gone back into the flat.
The 24-year-old added: “It was the security guards from the shopping centre who saw the smoke and ran over to tell us.
“They tried to find the fire alarm but couldn’t.
“Then they began banging on all the doors to tell us.
“We were waiting outside for maybe half an hour to 45 minutes.
“We weren’t told anything. Nobody knew what was going on.”
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