Huge fire destroys former abattoir

Dec 10 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

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

At the height of the fire, 10 fire crews from across Merseyside were at the scene of the TCM meat packing and refrigeration plant, including specialist aerial appliances.

The building was “completely obliterated” by the fire, according to eyewitnesses.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue got the first call about the blaze at the old abattoir building in New Chester Road, Birkenhead, 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 and the gable ends of the structure are thought to be unsafe.

Roads around the fire-affected building remained sealed for much of Saturday, as four fire crews continued to bring the blaze under control.

The Chester-bound lane of the A41 was still closed into Sunday for fear of falling debris.

Firefighters were still damping down at the scene last night.

It is not yet known what led to the fire as it has been deemed too unsafe for structural engineers to get close to the building.

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.

“Investigations into the cause have not begun yet as structural engineers do not want to allow any access because of the dangerous state of the gable ends.”

No-one was in the building and nobody was injured.

vickyanderson