As predicted here, several times (the last time six days ago), the local arsonists have again struck a historically important, derelict building in central Walsall, with the former BOAK building on the corner of Station Street and Bridgman Street now seemingly thoroughly ablaze.
I’m sure all our best wishes are with the emergency services dealing with this incident, and hope and pray nobody was caught inside.
The coincidences just keep happening.
Please note that the owners of all the images here retain full copyright and permission should be sought from them before use.
Update from @ResponseSGT posted 00:04:
http://twitter.com/ResponseSgt/status/227539834586148864
Update from Blue Watch (Fire Service) in Coventry, posted 00:53:
http://twitter.com/bluewatchcov/status/227552135066308608
Update from travel correspondent Tom Stokes, 05:39:
http://twitter.com/thetomstokes/status/227624115937361920
For pictures from ITV Central news, click here
Remarkable shot of the blaze taken from Leamore by friend of the Brownhills Blog, Steve Wilcox. Incredible.
Click on this link to visit Steve’s photo stream on Flickr.
http://twitter.com/ResponseSgt/status/227527309702356993
Image posted by @ResponseSGT on Twitter at 11:15pm.
http://twitter.com/ResponseSgt/status/227533497806495744
Photo posted again by @ResponseSgt on twitter: by 11:39pm the building is in imminent danger of collapse.
http://twitter.com/ResponseSgt/status/227535825582292992
11:49pm image by @ResponseSgt on twitter: most of the internal beams burnt, the building collapses into Bridgman Street.
http://twitter.com/ResponseSgt/status/227545971771465728
By 00:29am, another photo posted by @responseSGT shows major collapse, and that the building is clearly lost. I’m sad and angry. Hope all dealing with this are safe. Good luck, people, and thank you.
Walsall: where your heritage makes fine fuel. We haven’t got many old building left to lose…
Site of the BOAC building in central Walsall. Click on the image to see a larger version.
The BOAK building as I recorded it on the 14th July 2012.