A SEVERE fire in Halesowen this weekend has led to a man and two dogs needing to be rehomed.

Emergency services were alerted to a shed blaze in Bassnage Road at about 2.37pm yesterday (Sunday, August 5) following a 999 call.

West Midlands Fire Service dispatched 15 firefighters to the scene where they found the shed was well alight and had spread to the two nearby houses.

The crews managed to put the flames out by 3.40pm, but not before the fire had caused severe damage to the properties’ walls and windows.

However, station commander Lee Baker said it was a good stop by the initial crews to prevent further damage to the homes.

A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel and one of their main jets to put out the fire.

“The fire started in a wooden shed and quickly spread to two semi-detached houses. It caused severe burning to the walls and windows.

“The crews used a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke and we requested Dudley Council to attend as the houses were believed to be council properties.

“One man received oxygen therapy from firefighters, but did not need any extra help from the ambulance service.”

After the fire was out, a representative from Dudley Council attended the scene to arrange boarding and rehome the female occupant and her two dogs*.

The spokesman added: “Firefighters left the scene at 5.40pm but revisited the properties at 8.30pm to check if there were any flare ups.

“They went back again at 10.30pm but there were no further issues.”

*The News initially believed the occupant of the house was a man, but it has now been confirmed that it was in fact a woman.