Nine fire engines were called
19:54, 17 Oct 2026Updated 20:10, 17 Oct 2026
Drone footage of IM Marsh campus fire
Drone footage showed the extent of a huge fire which broke out at a disused university campus this afternoon (Saturday, October 17). Emergency services were called to IM Marsh campus on Barkhill Road, which is on the border of Mossley Hill and Aigburth.
Fire crews were alerted at 3.41pm and on scene nine minutes later, with eight fire engines and an aerial appliance in attendance. Crews arrived to find an unoccupied student accommodation building around 100 metres by 20 metres in size with a “well developed” fire in the roof and began fighting the fire.
Merseyside Police were also in attendance managing cordons on Barkhill Road and North Sudley Road. Drone footage from the scene by ECHO reader Shaun showed flames engulfing the roof of the building while large plumes of white smoke rose to the sky.
People living in the area were told to keep their doors and windows closed.
A spokesperson for the fire service said: “If you have an existing medical condition, keep treatment close and if any ill effects are experienced dial NHS 111 for advice.
“Please avoid the area, the incident is ongoing.”
A later update added: “The incident has been divided into sectors with firefighters fighting the fire externally with main branch hoses and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fighting fire internally with hose reel jets. All utilities have been isolated. Please continue to avoid the area and keep doors and windows shut.”
Crews arrived to find an unoccupied student accommodation building around 100 metres by 20 metres in size with a well developed fire in the roof(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Ensure our latest news and what’s on headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a preferred source. Click here to activate or add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings.
The latest update from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters have made good progress and the incident has been scaled down to three fire engines and one aerial appliance.
“The service drone has been deployed to assist in identifying hotspots. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are dampening down the area and also checking for hotspots. Barkhill Road remains closed. Please continue to avoid the area.”
When ECHO reporter Rebecca McGrath attended the scene, a cordon was in place at either end of Barkhill Road and plumes of smoke could be seen in the sky. The area also smelt strongly of smoke.
Merseyside Fire scene at IM Marsh, Liverpool John Moores University, Mossley Hill(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
North Sudley Road was also closed with a police officer turning members of the public away from the area.
A spokesperson for LJMU said: “The university is working closely with the emergency services following a major fire at IM Marsh. The fire has been contained and there have been no casualties reported.
“The university vacated the site a number of years ago with no teaching or other student-facing activity at IM Marsh since 2020.
“LJMU thanks all of the emergency services for their swift response.”