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Liverpool Echo Arena car park 'ferocious' | Liverpool Echo Arena car park 'ferocious' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A witness has described watching a "ferocious" fire which destroyed about 1,400 cars break out just metres in front of her. | A witness has described watching a "ferocious" fire which destroyed about 1,400 cars break out just metres in front of her. |
The huge blaze engulfed the multi-storey car park in King's Dock - next to the Liverpool Echo Arena - on New Year's Eve. | The huge blaze engulfed the multi-storey car park in King's Dock - next to the Liverpool Echo Arena - on New Year's Eve. |
It forced the cancellation of a horse-riding show at the venue, and left hundreds stranded overnight. | It forced the cancellation of a horse-riding show at the venue, and left hundreds stranded overnight. |
The blaze is believed to have started accidentally. | The blaze is believed to have started accidentally. |
No casualties have been reported and no animals were hurt. | No casualties have been reported and no animals were hurt. |
Sue Wright was among hundreds of motorists whose vehicles were ruined in the fire. | Sue Wright was among hundreds of motorists whose vehicles were ruined in the fire. |
She and her family, including her husband, former England footballer Mark Wright, had been attending the Liverpool International Horse Show. | She and her family, including her husband, former England footballer Mark Wright, had been attending the Liverpool International Horse Show. |
'Ball of fire' | 'Ball of fire' |
Mrs Wright said she saw an old Land Rover - thought by firefighters to be the source of the blaze - with its engine on fire. | Mrs Wright said she saw an old Land Rover - thought by firefighters to be the source of the blaze - with its engine on fire. |
"The flames were just shooting out of the engine and coming past the tyres," she said. | "The flames were just shooting out of the engine and coming past the tyres," she said. |
"It looked like a ball of fire on the front of the car and it was producing a lot of smoke. | "It looked like a ball of fire on the front of the car and it was producing a lot of smoke. |
"We just left everything in the car - handbags, telephone, cash - and just went. | "We just left everything in the car - handbags, telephone, cash - and just went. |
"It was all insignificant as long as everyone was OK and we could get the horses out. | "It was all insignificant as long as everyone was OK and we could get the horses out. |
"I saw one car on fire but it was clear it was ferocious and spreading." | "I saw one car on fire but it was clear it was ferocious and spreading." |
Liverpool City Council opened a reception centre at Lifestyles Gym, for those unable to get home or needing temporary shelter. | Liverpool City Council opened a reception centre at Lifestyles Gym, for those unable to get home or needing temporary shelter. |
Others were offered accommodation or lifts by fellow show-goers or locals. | Others were offered accommodation or lifts by fellow show-goers or locals. |
Aintree International Equestrian Centre offered its stables to those needing accommodation for horses. | Aintree International Equestrian Centre offered its stables to those needing accommodation for horses. |
'We thought it was firecrackers' | 'We thought it was firecrackers' |
Jan Clarke, visiting from Adelaide in Australia, spent the night in the centre with daughters Kaitlyn Bolton, 27, and Shelly, 22. | Jan Clarke, visiting from Adelaide in Australia, spent the night in the centre with daughters Kaitlyn Bolton, 27, and Shelly, 22. |
Ms Clarke was returning to a block of flats near the arena with her younger daughter at about 16:30 GMT. | |
She said the first sign of the fire was smoke and the sound of explosions from across the dock. | She said the first sign of the fire was smoke and the sound of explosions from across the dock. |
"We thought it was firecrackers," she said. | "We thought it was firecrackers," she said. |
Kaitlyn was taking a shower when the flats were evacuated, Ms Clarke said. | Kaitlyn was taking a shower when the flats were evacuated, Ms Clarke said. |
They were directed to a nearby branch of McDonald's to take shelter, and watched the fire develop. | They were directed to a nearby branch of McDonald's to take shelter, and watched the fire develop. |
"All we could see was the smoke," she said. "We could see the smoke getting darker and darker and we heard multiple explosions." | "All we could see was the smoke," she said. "We could see the smoke getting darker and darker and we heard multiple explosions." |
Unable to return, the family was left to find alternative accommodation for the night. | Unable to return, the family was left to find alternative accommodation for the night. |
"The worst part was trying to find somewhere," she said. "We found a policeman and he told us to go to the Jury's Inn and they helped us to get here. | "The worst part was trying to find somewhere," she said. "We found a policeman and he told us to go to the Jury's Inn and they helped us to get here. |
"Everyone here was fabulous, I couldn't fault them. At least it was out of the cold." | "Everyone here was fabulous, I couldn't fault them. At least it was out of the cold." |
'It was surreal' | 'It was surreal' |
Ms Clarke, who celebrates her 60th birthday on Tuesday, was hopeful of a return to the flat. | Ms Clarke, who celebrates her 60th birthday on Tuesday, was hopeful of a return to the flat. |
She said Shelly, who suffers from epilepsy, had left her medication behind and had missed two doses. | She said Shelly, who suffers from epilepsy, had left her medication behind and had missed two doses. |
Sean and Alison Lightning had travelled from Northwood, near Shropshire, to attend the horse show. | Sean and Alison Lightning had travelled from Northwood, near Shropshire, to attend the horse show. |
Mr Lightning said the couple were walking back towards the arena when he detected the smell of "burning plastic" in the air. | |
"It was surreal," he said. "I said 'knowing our luck it'll be the venue' and it was." | "It was surreal," he said. "I said 'knowing our luck it'll be the venue' and it was." |
The couple had left their phones inside Mr Lightning's Nissan pick-up truck, but were helped to contact family by strangers. | The couple had left their phones inside Mr Lightning's Nissan pick-up truck, but were helped to contact family by strangers. |
"People in the street were helping us, ringing our family and leaving messages." | "People in the street were helping us, ringing our family and leaving messages." |
They were able to find hotel accommodation on Sunday night and had their son pick them up from the reception centre. | They were able to find hotel accommodation on Sunday night and had their son pick them up from the reception centre. |
Daniel Delsart, a French show jumper, was supposed to be competing in the Liverpool International Horse Show on Sunday evening but instead ended up helping evacuate some of the horses. | Daniel Delsart, a French show jumper, was supposed to be competing in the Liverpool International Horse Show on Sunday evening but instead ended up helping evacuate some of the horses. |
He said: "I rushed in with a few other riders and officials to pull out the last few horses in the multi-storey. | He said: "I rushed in with a few other riders and officials to pull out the last few horses in the multi-storey. |
"The smoke was getting worse and worse and the horses were pretty alarmed with all the fire engine sirens and bangs from cars exploding." | "The smoke was getting worse and worse and the horses were pretty alarmed with all the fire engine sirens and bangs from cars exploding." |
Later smoke began to engulf the stables and he helped to move the horses again as it was getting difficult to breathe. | Later smoke began to engulf the stables and he helped to move the horses again as it was getting difficult to breathe. |
He said: "The scale of the fire, it was crazy. It's like something that you see on TV but you never think it's possible." | He said: "The scale of the fire, it was crazy. It's like something that you see on TV but you never think it's possible." |
Mr Delsart had been looking forward to competing "in one of the best shows in the world" and then celebrating his 31st birthday on 1 January, but the fire cut short his stay. | Mr Delsart had been looking forward to competing "in one of the best shows in the world" and then celebrating his 31st birthday on 1 January, but the fire cut short his stay. |
"It was meant to be fun but I ended up having to drive all the way from Liverpool to Northamptonshire, on my birthday, in the truck." | "It was meant to be fun but I ended up having to drive all the way from Liverpool to Northamptonshire, on my birthday, in the truck." |
The fire service was first called at 16:42 GMT on New Year's Eve. | The fire service was first called at 16:42 GMT on New Year's Eve. |
Crews remain at the scene to continue investigations into the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started by accident. | Crews remain at the scene to continue investigations into the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started by accident. |
All vehicles in the 1,600-capacity car park were destroyed, police said. | All vehicles in the 1,600-capacity car park were destroyed, police said. |
Merseyside Police said 21 fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze and the fire service was guarding against the risk of the building collapsing. | |
A spokeswoman for the Echo Arena said the horse show was cancelled and that "all people and horses are safe and secure". | A spokeswoman for the Echo Arena said the horse show was cancelled and that "all people and horses are safe and secure". |
The four-day event was due to finish with Sunday evening's show, where around 4,000 people were expected. | The four-day event was due to finish with Sunday evening's show, where around 4,000 people were expected. |
Have you been affected by the fire? Have you had to spend the night in a shelter? Only if it is safe to do so, tell us your story at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the fire? Have you had to spend the night in a shelter? Only if it is safe to do so, tell us your story at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |