Witness shares photo of moment fire started in Liverpool car park that destroyed 1,400 vehicles

Update: A witness has shared a photograph of the moment an engine fire started in an old Land Rover that destroyed around 1,400 vehicles in a car park near Liverpool's Echo Arena yesterday.

Witness shares photo of moment fire started in Liverpool car park that destroyed 1,400 vehicles

Update - 12.03pm: A witness has shared a photograph of the moment an engine fire started in an old Land Rover that destroyed around 1,400 vehicles in a car park near Liverpool's Echo Arena yesterday.

Sue Wright, wife of former England footballer Mark, took the photo of the blaze in a multi-storey car park which left many people stranded in the city overnight.

Witnesses described abandoning their vehicles, grabbing possessions and running for their lives after the blaze broke out in and rapidly spread.

On Monday the fire appeared to have been extinguished, leaving the charred remains of cars on the seven levels of the multi-storey car park.

There were no reported injuries but a shelter had been set up to look after many people who were unable to get home or get alternative accommodation.

The fire caused the cancellation of the Liverpool International Horse Show on New Year's Eve, which was attended by Sue Wright and her family, including former England footballer Mark.

She told how she saw an old Land Rover on level three with its engine on fire and helped to lead some of the horses to safety.

Mrs Wright said: "The flames were just shooting out of the engine and coming past the tyres. 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. 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."

She was with her family, friends and children in an eight-seater minibus when one of their children spotted the fire and smoke.

File photo of Sue Wright, wife of former England footballer Mark (left).
File photo of Sue Wright, wife of former England footballer Mark (left).

They abandoned the minibus and got everyone to safety.

Mrs Wright called the emergency services and rushed to the stables but she could hear "bangs and popping" as she arrived, and the horses were "spooked".

She recalled: "The water was coming down to ground level as the firefighters were tackling the fire but it was spooking the horses."

Mrs Wright told the grooms to bridle the horses and they managed to get them out through two exits.

"Everybody was helping each other out. It was all hands on deck in the stables," she said.

Mrs Wright said her minibus is a "write-off" and it is believed to be among 1,400 vehicles which were in the car park.

10.13am: Witnesses tell of hearing cars explode 'every few seconds' in blaze that destroyed hundreds in Liverpool car park

Hundreds of cars have been destroyed after fire tore through a 1,600-capacity multi-storey car park next to the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Witnesses described grabbing possessions and running for their lives after the blaze broke out in an old Land Rover and rapidly spread to nearby vehicles.

Cars were heard exploding "every few seconds" as firefighters battled to bring the inferno under control into the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The Liverpool International Horse Show on New Year’s Eve was cancelled and horses which had been on the first level were moved to the arena.

Sue Wright, wife of former England footballer Mark, said she witnessed the start of the blaze and said it was sparked by an engine fire in the 4x4.

She told the Mail Online: "It was an old car that exploded as we were leaving the building. We were in our minibus and one of the kids shouted, ’there’s a fire!’"

She added: "We’ve lost everything because our car was right next to the car that exploded. My handbag was in it, our cards, cash, everything. We just grabbed the keys and ran."

Mrs Wright said the cars were "just popping every couple of seconds".

Kevin Booth, 44, from Manchester, left his six-month-old Fiat 500 X in the Echo Arena car park as he took his wife Julie and 16-year-old daughter Holly to see the horse show as a treat.

"The flames and the smoke was unbelievable" Mr Booth said.

"People were saying that they would just wait and get their cars back. I thought, ’Have you seen the fire? Are you joking?’

"It was frightening, we could hear the bangs of car windows exploding."

Kerry Matthews, 54, a warehouseman, and partner Patricia Heath, 55, an administrator, both from Wrexham, North Wales, were visiting Liverpool for the night to celebrate the new year.

He said: "A fireman said the whole car park is on fire. He said, ’What level is your car on?’ We said six.

"He said, ’Well you best go and have a couple of drinks to celebrate new year because you’re not going to get your car back’."

Merseyside Police said initial investigations indicated 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 and advise owners to contact their insurance companies," the force said.

No-one has been seriously injured, it added.

According to Liverpool’s mayor Joe Anderson the blaze started in a Land Rover on the third level of the car park.

Firefighters worked into the night trying to control the blaze that began on Sunday afternoon.

Crews were first called at 4.42pm and were on scene eight minutes later.

The area was evacuated along with some apartments nearby due to smoke billowing from the blaze.

Police advised members of the public to stay away from the area and traffic restrictions are currently in place.

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."

The four-day event was due to finish with Sunday evening’s show where around 4,000 people were expected.

An estimated 1,400 vehicles were thought to be in the car park at the time the blaze took hold.

The fire service said crews rescued two dogs from one of the vehicles inside the car park during efforts to tackle the blaze.

A spokesman said they were thought to be the only animals in the car park at the time.

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