Firefighters damp down after huge Wirral blaze

Dec 9 2007 By Dave Higgerson

Fire in New Chester Road, New Brighton

FIRE CREWS are today damping down after spending nearly two days fighting a huge blaze at an old abbatoir.

At the height of the fire, 10 fire crews from across the area were at the scene, including specialist appliances.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue got the first call about the blaze, at an old abbatoir building in New Chester Road, at 8.30pm on Friday. The first crews on the scene called for back up.

Strong winds and the intensity of the fire made it almost impossible for fire crews to tackle if from the ground so aerial ladders were used to target the blaze from above. Several sections of the building are thought to have collapsed.

Roads around the fire-affected building remained sealed for much of yesterday, as four fire crews continued to bring the blaze under control. They are down damping down at the scene.

It is not yet known what caused the fire.

Station officer Paul Garrigan from Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "The intensity of the fire means we do not yet know what caused it. It was an especially dangerous job for us because of the high winds, and also because the intensity of the fire caused part of the building to collapse.

"We will be here for some time yet putting the fire out, and then investigations into the cause can begin."