Fire crews arrived to find the commercial unit well alight
The scene of the fire on Kitchen Street last night(Image: Echo reader)
A commercial unit went up in flames in the middle of the Baltic Triangle last night. Firefighters battled throughout the night to contain the blaze, which took place in a 15 by 20m unit on Kitchen Street.
Strict road closures were put in place on Kitchen Street and Jamaica Street as fire engines and police vehicles raced to the scene. Emergency services were alerted at 11.56pm yesterday, October 9, and arrived at 12.01am to find the building “well alight”. Six fire engines and an aerial appliance were directed to the scene.
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find a commercial unit around 15 by 20 metres in size well alight. Crews secured water supplies and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets and main jet hoses to fight the fire. The service drone has been requested to provide enhanced situational awareness from above.
“Residents and businesses nearby should keep doors and windows closed. If you have an existing medical condition keep medicines close and if any ill effects are experienced, dial NHS 111 for advice.”
The scene of the fire on Kitchen Street last night(Image: Echo reader)
People were advised to avoid the area, which was cordoned off from Watkinson Street to Blundell Street. Images showed multiple fire engines and police cars parked in the area, including next to the Baltic Hotel.
In an update at 7.30am this morning, a fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters continued to fight the fire internally and externally throughout the night, with Merseyside Police managing an outer cordon, with Kitchen Street and Jamaica Street closed.
“A building surveyor attended and confirmed that the building was not at risk of collapse so crews could continue firefighting as they progressed through the building internally wearing breathing apparatus and fighting fire with hose reel jets.
“The incident was scaled down to four fire engines and an aerial appliance at around 2.45am. Road closures were all removed except Kitchen Street and not long after the incident was scaled down to two fire engines and the aerial appliance at around 3.15am.
“Firefighters removed roof tiles to check for fire spread, checked for hot spots and monitored temperatures. The fire was extinguished by 4.40am and crews handed over to Merseyside Police.”
Roads remain closed in the Baltic Triangle on Friday morning (Image: Iain Watts )
Jamaica Street and Kitchen Street remain closed this morning.
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