A man is fighting for his life in a critical condition after suffering serious burn injuries in a house explosion.

Emergency services were called to Shrewsbury Close in Bloxwich, Walsall, West Mids., following reports of the blast at around 9.30pm last night (Mon).

Around 65 firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control and one person was assessed at the scene by paramedics before being discharged.



West Midlands Ambulance Service was then called to another address three miles away on Lower Lichfield Street, in Willenhall, two hours later at 11.31pm.

Crews found two men with burn injuries and rushed both to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The service said the first man had suffered "critical injuries" while the second was treated for "serious burn injuries."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Two men have been taken to hospital with serious burn injuries overnight."

"West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.28pm to Shrewsbury Close following reports of a house explosion and sent an ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic and the Trust's Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene"

"On arrival, crews found one man who did not wish to be assessed and was discharged at the scene."

"We received a second call at 11.31pm to Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall."

"Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic were sent to the scene."

"On arrival, crews found two men who had suffered burn injuries."

"The first had suffered critical injuries and, following advanced trauma care from medics, was conveyed under emergency conditions to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with MERIT travelling on board to continue treatment en route."

"Ambulance staff treated the second man for serious injuries before conveying him to the same hospital."

The fire was extinguished by 11pm but "extensively damaged" a two storey, mid-terraced house and spread to neighbouring properties."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: "At 9.26pm on Monday 28 April, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control started to receive multiple 999 calls reporting an incident in Shrewsbury Close, Bloxwich."

"Nine fire crews, our Technical Rescue Unit, a hydraulic aerial platform and a drone were mobilised."

"Our first resources arrived within five minutes of being mobilised."

"They were met with a challenging scene – a severe fire involving an extensively damaged two-storey, mid-terraced house. The fire had also affected neighbouring properties."

"Several residents had got themselves to safety before we arrived, and others were evacuated by emergency services as a precaution."

"Firefighters led one man to safety from a property. He is understood to have been assessed and discharged at the scene by the ambulance service."

"A local church provided shelter, and volunteers from the Red Cross also offered support."

"Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire, which had been extinguished by around 11pm."

"Colleagues from the police also attended, as well as the council and utility companies."

"We expect to have a presence at the scene throughout the night."

"Our investigators will be working to establish the cause."

"We would like to thank local people for their patience and understanding as we continue our work at the scene."