Huge fire destroys multistorey car park in Liverpool

A FIRE has destroyed all cars in a 1,600 capacity multi-storey car park in Liverpool.

The Liverpool International Horse Show was cancelled as firefighters tackled the huge blaze next to the venue on Liverpool’s waterfront.

Merseyside Police said it believed that an accidental fire within one vehicle caused other cars to ignite.

“We believe that all vehicles parked in the car park have been destroyed and advise owners to contact their insurance companies,” they said.

Nearby apartments were evacuated due to smoke billowing from the blaze, but no-one was seriously injured, police said. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service described the blaze at King’s Dock next to the Liverpool Echo Arena as one of the worse fires it had ever dealt with. Crews were still battling to get the blaze under control with 12 engines at the scene along with two aerial appliances several hours after it took hold, shortly after 4.30pm.

A spokeswoman said the blaze started on level three of the sevenstorey car park, with multiple cars ablaze and it had affected that level and one above.

Around 4,000 people had been expected at the arena for Sunday evening’s horse show.