Emergency Services were dispatched to the disused premises on Pershore Street, near Chinatown, at around 6:18AM, following several 999 calls reporting the blaze.
Nearly 30 firefighters were mobilised to the incident, which involved a fire inside disused commercial premises near a hotel. The first crew arrived in five minutes.
Station Commander Dave Janes, said: “At this stage the fire is believed to have been started deliberately. Fortunately, the swift and assertive actions of our crews to contain the fire meant that the adjacent hotel didn’t need to be evacuated.
“Their actions also stopped the fire affecting a neighbouring property which is under construction.”
West Midlands Police closed the road whilst crews brought the fire under control. The blaze was contained by 7AM.
Please call WMP on 101 if you have ANY information.
(Image: @ShaunInBrum)




