A fire has erupted in the heart of Liverpool’s city centre, with firefighters called to Fox Street shortly before 2.20pm last Saturday. Upon arrival, the firefighters found the building was already “well alight.” The flames spread quickly through the four-storey structure, and emergency services were concerned that it was on the verge of collapse as it showed clear signs of instability.
Merseyside fire and rescue service immediately began evacuating nearby buildings to ensure the safety of those in the area. No injuries were reported in the immediate aftermath, but the fire burned for hours before being brought under control. At times, the flames were seen leaping above the roofline, and the smoke could be seen from miles away.
It’s unclear what sparked the fire, and investigations into its causes are currently ongoing. However, it would seem that the speed with which it spread highlights the fact that many older buildings in the area are less than ideally equipped with necessary fire safety tools. While Liverpool City Council has said that it is working to upgrade older buildings’ safety features, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the fact that more work needs to be done to protect locals’ homes and businesses.
Many have welcomed the fact that no one was hurt in this blaze, but the chaos and destruction brought about by this fire will undoubtedly have a long-term impact on the community. Therefore, it’s vital that those in power learn from this incident and work to improve safety measures to ensure that such catastrophes don’t happen again in the future
Read the full article from The Guardian here: Read More