Henley College Coventry fire: 'Dreadful' as huge blaze rips through abandoned college building in UK city after 'being set on fire'

The fire at Henley College in the Potter's Green area of Coventry broke out at around 7.15pm on Tuesday night (29 April). People were urged to avoid the area and close doors and windows to protect themselves as smoke billowed into the sky.

The West Midlands Fire Service said in a post shared to X: “We have twelve crews in attendance at Henley Road, Coventry, where they have responded to a Fire, at a disused College Building. Please avoid the area, where possible."

The fire service said 12 crews were in attendance at the location. It added: "Please close your doors and windows if you live or work nearby and avoid the area where possible."

Videos on social media show black smoke billowing across the city. The video appeared to show the fire had torn through the roof of the building.

In an update West Midlands Fire Service said: “To ensure the safety of the site, we are working with National Grid to protect a nearby substation. Local residents may experience power outages over the next couple of hours. Thank you for your patience while we deal with this incident”.

One user on X wrote: “Someone has set former Henley College on fire apparently. Dreadful.” Another said: “Watch out sky blues Coventry college abounded building is on fire on Henley road”. It is not yet clear what caused the fire.

Crews said: "At around 7.15pm on Tuesday 29 April, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control received a number of calls about a large fire on Henley Road, Coventry. Upon approach to the incident, initial crews requested additional fire engines to attend given the size and scale of the fire.

"Fifteen fire engines, which includes three hydraulic platforms, have been mobilised and are working hard to extinguish the fire in a complex five-storey building. Everyone is accounted for. We have had support from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police.

"Henley Road is closed between Parcel Road and Deedmore Road. We anticipate being on site for some time due to the complexity of the site and fire, and nearby residents and businesses are asked to close their windows and doors and stay away from the area to allow our fire crews to manage the incident and bring it to as quick a conclusion as we are able to."

Henley College has been an important institution since the 1960s. It has been used for filming purposes in recent years, and emergency services training exercises.

Former MP Colleen Fletcher, who represented Labour for Coventry North East until last year, attended Henley College, which was established in 1964. It merged in 2017 with City College to become Coventry College but the site near Potter's Green hasn't been used for some time.

Darius Vassell and Chris Kirkland, former England footballers, also attended Henley College, whose graduation ceremonies were held at Coventry Cathedral in the heart of the city. More than 6,000 students attend Coventry College now, though most of these use modern facilities in the Swanswell area of the city.