A significant fire has erupted at a 16-storey office building in Birmingham city centre, leading to the evacuation of the premises and substantial travel disruptions. Thick smoke was visible billowing from the top floor of the building located at Colmore Circus Queensway on the afternoon of 15 September.

Emergency services, including six fire engines and three brigade response vehicles, responded shortly after 4.30pm. A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that the building, which is currently disused, has been fully evacuated. They stated, "Colmore Row is closed, as fire crews work to extinguish a fire on the top floor of a highrise on Colmore Circus Queensway. The fire has been surrounded and good progress is being made. Please avoid the area."

A cordon has been established from Snow Hill Queensway to Livery Street, restricting access to the area. The fire brigade has urged the public to steer clear of the vicinity due to ongoing operations.

Transport for West Midlands has reported significant disruptions to public transport. Buses are unable to access Colmore Row, with services entering the city via Snow Hill Queensway required to perform U-turns. A statement from the transport authority noted, "City Centre buses are unable to access Colmore Row due to a building fire. Bus stops in the Colmore Row area cannot be served."

Despite the chaos, Snow Hill train station remains operational, although bus and tram services are heavily affected. The fire brigade has advised commuters to seek alternative transport routes during this busy rush hour period.

Witnesses at the scene reported traffic congestion and halted tram lines, with one individual commenting on social media, "Fire in Birmingham, on Colmore Row. Tram lines stopped either side. Traffic backing up. Smoke still coming out the roof but not as bad."

As firefighters continue to tackle the blaze, the situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as the emergency services work to bring the incident under control.