West Midlands Fire Service attended a severe house fire in Birmingham on Tuesday evening.

The blaze gutted the ground floor maisonette and severely smoke logged the upper floors.

A woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, her condition is not known at this time.

A Fire Investigation and Prevention Section (FIPS) Officer also attended to investigate the cause into the inferno.

Firefighters were called to the horrifying incident at 9.10pm and sent 3 fire engines with approximately 15 firefighters to the scene on Simmons Leasow in the Bartley Green area of the city.

Charred windows and blackened interiors were visible from the roadside and melted plastic showed the ferocity of the heat and flames.

West Midlands Police sent a forensics officer to record the scene although do not believe there was any criminal involvement.

A spokesman for the police force said: ‘We were called at around 9.20pm. The fire is not being treated as suspicious, and we are assisting West Midlands Fire Service.’

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.

A spokeswoman for the service said: ‘on arrival, crews found a woman with life-threatening injuries.

Following treatment on scene, she was conveyed under emergency conditions to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with MERIT travelling on board to continue treatment en route.

A second patient, a woman, was treated for suspected smoke inhalation and taken to the same hospital.’

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service added: ‘Shortly after 9.10pm on Tuesday 28 January, we responded to Simmons Leasow in the Bartley Green area of Birmingham.

‘Three fire engines responded. The first crew arrived at the scene within five minutes of being mobilised.

‘This was a severe fire in the kitchen of a ground-floor flat, comprising a two-storey block of flats.

‘On arrival, two casualties had left the affected property after being helped to safety by a passerby.

‘One is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries and received treatment from attending paramedics.

‘A second casualty was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Both casualties are believed to have been conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

‘The fire was extinguished by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. Firefighters worked to damp down and extinguish any hotspots.

‘As of Wednesday morning, Fire Investigation Officers are currently in attendance at the affected property as we work to identify a cause of the fire.’

ENDS