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| Liverpool Echo Arena car park fire destroys 1,400 vehicles | Liverpool Echo Arena car park fire destroys 1,400 vehicles |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge fire has destroyed up to 1,400 vehicles in a multi-storey car park in Liverpool. | A huge fire has destroyed up to 1,400 vehicles in a multi-storey car park in Liverpool. |
| Nearby apartments have been evacuated due to smoke, police said, and | |
| 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. | 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. |
| No-one is believed to have been seriously injured in the fire, which broke out at about 16:40 GMT | No-one is believed to have been seriously injured in the fire, which broke out at about 16:40 GMT |
| The fire service said 12 engines were at the scene tackling the blaze and it was guarding against the risk of the building collapsing. | |
| All vehicles left in the 1,600-capacity car park have been destroyed, Merseyside Police said. | All vehicles left in the 1,600-capacity car park have been destroyed, Merseyside Police said. |
| They warned people to stay away from the area, adding that travel restrictions were in place. | They warned people to stay away from the area, adding that travel restrictions were in place. |
| The Liverpool International Horse Show has been running at the arena, which has a total capacity of 11,000, since 28 December. | The Liverpool International Horse Show has been running at the arena, which has a total capacity of 11,000, since 28 December. |
| Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted that everyone was safe and no animals had been hurt. | Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted that everyone was safe and no animals had been hurt. |
| He said some horses that were on the first floor of the multi-storey car park had been moved inside the arena. | He said some horses that were on the first floor of the multi-storey car park had been moved inside the arena. |
| Mike Quek tweeted that there were "lots of explosions coming from the car park still". | Mike Quek tweeted that there were "lots of explosions coming from the car park still". |
| "Driving into #liverpool #arena carpark and told to evacuate as car was on fire. Horses on ground floor. Hopefully everyone is ok," he added. | "Driving into #liverpool #arena carpark and told to evacuate as car was on fire. Horses on ground floor. Hopefully everyone is ok," he added. |
| Merseyside Police said: "Initial investigations indicate that an accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite. | Merseyside Police said: "Initial investigations indicate that an accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite. |
| "We believe that all vehicles parked in the car park have been destroyed." | "We believe that all vehicles parked in the car park have been destroyed." |
| A spokeswoman for the Echo Arena said: "We regret to announce that the Liverpool International Horse Show has been cancelled tonight due to a serious fire in the multi-storey car park on site. | A spokeswoman for the Echo Arena said: "We regret to announce that the Liverpool International Horse Show has been cancelled tonight due to a serious fire in the multi-storey car park on site. |
| "All people and horses are safe and secure. | "All people and horses are safe and secure. |
| "We are working alongside the emergency services to ensure the fire is brought under control and to make the site safe as quickly as possible." | "We are working alongside the emergency services to ensure the fire is brought under control and to make the site safe as quickly as possible." |
| The arena said Liverpool City Council had opened a reception centre at Lifestyles in Park Road, Steble Street, L8 6QH, for those unable to get home or needing temporary shelter. | |
| On the horse show's Facebook page, organisers said it was with "considerable regret" that it had decided to cancel the evening show due to the fire. | On the horse show's Facebook page, organisers said it was with "considerable regret" that it had decided to cancel the evening show due to the fire. |
| It added: "All people and horses are safe and secure, and show organisers have thanked spectators, riders and support teams for their understanding and co-operation during this ongoing situation. | It added: "All people and horses are safe and secure, and show organisers have thanked spectators, riders and support teams for their understanding and co-operation during this ongoing situation. |
| The Echo Arena said: "The possibility of rescheduling tonight's show to tomorrow has been discussed, but unfortunately this has not proven possible." | |
| A number of people have responded to the show's Facebook post, many offering stables for the night for horses, accommodation for people stranded or lifts home. | A number of people have responded to the show's Facebook post, many offering stables for the night for horses, accommodation for people stranded or lifts home. |
| Carl Hopwood wrote: "The smoke from the fire was really nasty. The security staff at the venue were really professional polite and very well organised in directing people away from the event." | Carl Hopwood wrote: "The smoke from the fire was really nasty. The security staff at the venue were really professional polite and very well organised in directing people away from the event." |