Liverpool fire: Major incident declared as city centre building at risk of collapse

A major incident was declared as a huge fire tore through Liverpool city centre on Saturday.

Firefighters urged people to avoid Fox Street amid fears the fire would cause what appears to be an unfinished development building to collapse.

The smoke could be seen billowing out for miles across the Mersey and inside Goodison Park were thousands were gathered to watch a home FA Cup tie against Luton Town.

The part-built apartment block – where the fire is believed to have broken out – is next to the historic Saint Mary of the Angels church where the Liverpool Philharmonic regularly plays.

Fire crews were called to the blaze at 2.18pm on Saturday and arrived to find a four-storey building measuring 100 metres by 50 metres well alight.

The fire service urged people to avoid the area and nearby residents and businesses to close windows and doors. There are no reports of any casualties, according to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.

Have you been affected by this incident? Email barney.davis@independent.co.uk

Scarlett O’Neill was evacuated from her home in Fox Street.

She told the Liverpool Echo: “We rang the fire service and saw the flames getting bigger. It was worrying so we decided to grab some things and leave as the smoke intensified and you could feel the heat coming from the fire through the flat windows.

“It got a lot worse very fast and there was lots of debris flying around.

“We’ve all had to find a place to stay tonight as they aren’t letting us back in the building.”

By 5pm, it was no longer classed as a major incident and the main body of the fire had been extinguished.

Lara Buchanan, a trainee teacher from Liverpool, was driving through Kingsway Tunnel from the Wirral when she noticed a “dark rolling cloud” of smoke.

She said she could “feel the heat” of the blaze from her car and was shocked when she saw the extent of the fire.

Ms Buchanan, 23, said: “I could see the fire before entering the tunnel but didn’t know where it was coming from.

“As I came out of the tunnel into Liverpool, the sky was dark and all I could see was a black rolling cloud.

“The building was blazing alight and I could feel the heat from the car driving past.

“I was shocked to see the cloud and scared for whoever may be affected.”

A statement on Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s website says: “The incident is no longer classed as a major incident and successful firefighting tactics have resulted in the fire being greatly reduced, with the main body of fire now extinguished.

“Great Homer Street has been reopened for vehicle access.”

Previously they said: “The fire is divided into 4 sectors, with ground monitor main branch hoses, multiple main branch hoses and a combined platform ladder in use.

“Twelve fire engines and 2 aerial appliances are still on scene. Merseyside Police are also in attendance and are assisting MFRS with the evacuation of the building. A cordon is in place around the building and the wider area, with road closures in place.

“Road closures have been introduced on Great Homer Street, Fox Street, Rose Place, Great Richmond Street, Richmond Brow, Netherfield Road South, Everton Brow and Prince Edwin Street to allow emergency services to attend the scene.”