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Liverpool Echo Arena car park 'ferocious' | Liverpool Echo Arena car park 'ferocious' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A witness has described watching a "ferocious" blaze which destroyed about 1,400 cars break out in front of her. | |
It engulfed the multi-storey car park in King's Dock - next to the Liverpool Echo Arena - on New Year's Eve. | |
The venue was forced to cancel the Liverpool International Horse Show and hundreds were left stranded overnight. No casualties were reported. | |
The fire chief said a sprinkler system could have stopped the fire, which began accidentally, from spreading. | |
'Ball of fire' | 'Ball of fire' |
Sue Wright had been attending the horse show with her husband, former England footballer Mark Wright. | |
She 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. |
"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." |
Dan Stephens, of Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said the flames spread very quickly. | |
"I believe a sprinkler system would certainly have suppressed the fire," he said. | |
"It would definitely have limited the spread and given us a much better opportunity to put the fire out before it spread to the extent it di. | |
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said there were lessons to be learned. | |
"If there's things we can do to make the car parks more safer then that is exactly what we will do," he said. | |
'Thought it was firecrackers' | |
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. |
Jan Clarke, from Adelaide in Australia, spent the night in the centre with daughters Kaitlyn Bolton, 27, and Shelly, 22 after they were evacuated from a black of flats near the arena. | |
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. |
The family took shelter at a nearby McDonald's, where they watched the fire develop. | |
"All we could see was the smoke," Ms Clarke said. "We could see the smoke getting darker and darker and we heard multiple explosions." | |
'It was surreal' | 'It was surreal' |
Ms Clarke, who celebrates her 60th birthday on Tuesday, praised the help and advise they were given by emergency services and 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. |
"Everyone here was fabulous, I couldn't fault them," she added. | |
Sean and Alison Lightning, from Northwood, near Shropshire, were walking towards the arena to see the show when they 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 and found temporary accommodation. | |
"People in the street were helping us, ringing our family and leaving messages," he added. | |
No animals were hurt in the blaze and four dogs were rescued from a car on the top floor of the car park earlier. | |
Daniel Delsart, a French show jumper, was supposed to be competing in the show on Sunday evening but ended up helping to 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. |
"The scale of the fire, it was crazy. It's like something that you see on TV but you never think it's possible." | |
The fire service was first called at about 16:40 GMT on New Year's Eve. | |
Crews remain at the scene to continue investigations into the cause of the fire and are guarding against the risk of the building collapsing. | |
All vehicles in the 1,600-capacity car park were destroyed, Merseyside Police said. | |
Those with vehicles in the car park have been told to contact their insurance company quoting reference number 650 of 31 December. | |
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: |