BY IAN CROUCH
Fire has caused severe damage to a unit at Birmingham Gardens overnight.
Fire crews from Wallsend, Mayfield West and Lambton were called to a duplex in Lee Crescent just after 1.30am today (Tuesday 28 July, 2026) to find a fire on the back patio of unit 1 had taken hold.
Newcastle Fire Command says the occupants were woken by smoke alarms and safely evacuated the unit along with the occupants of unit 2.
The second unit sustained fire damage to the ceiling.
12 firefighters took more than 3 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the blaze before handing the scene to police.
