Iconic Crown Pub Narrowly Avoids Damage in Station Street Fire

Birmingham’s historic Crown pub, a landmark venue where Black Sabbath famously played their first gig, was reportedly just “five feet from disaster” following a fire on Station Street. The blaze, which involved a waste bin alight on the pavement outside the now-closed establishment, occurred shortly before 8:35 PM on Tuesday, June 9.

Eyewitnesses captured footage of concerned onlookers observing as firefighters swiftly tackled and extinguished the flames. Fortunately, West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries resulting from the incident.

Campaigners Raise Concerns Over Station Street Development Delays

A local campaign group, ‘Save Station Street’, expressed significant concern following the incident. The group stated on social media platform X that the “birthplace of Black Sabbath, heavy metal and Birmingham’s spiritual home of music, was five feet from disaster.”

The campaigners highlighted the ongoing delays in the Station Street regeneration project, warning that such incidents increase the risk of losing either The Electric or The Crown pubs. The Crown pub has been closed since 2014.

Fire Service Response Detailed

A spokesperson for the fire service provided details of their response to the incident. “Shortly before 8:35 PM on Tuesday, June 9, we responded to Station Street,” the spokesperson confirmed. “A 4×4 brigade response vehicle from Aston attended. It arrived to find a small waste bin alight on the pavement.”

Firefighters utilized a hose reel to extinguish the fire and subsequently damped down the affected area. The fire service confirmed their departure from the scene at 9:25 PM, with no further complications reported.