BILLOWING black smoke enveloped parts of Wirral’s business district after a blaze broke out at a car repair centre.
Four fire engines were called to the Merseyside Car Hospital on Cleveland Street in Birkenhead at 1pm yesterday.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said they had received calls from “numerous members of the public” describing plumes of smoke and flames pouring from the building’s chimneys and drifting over Hamilton Square.
Wirral station manager Ben Ryder said although no-one was injured the blaze, it could have become a “major incident” but for the quick thinking of staff and fire crews first on the scene.
Fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the car workshop through a side entrance on Russell Street.
Employees standing outside said they thought the fire had started in a car “oven” used to dry cars after they have been paint-sprayed.
A MFRS spokeswoman said that the blaze had been largely confined to a spray booth.
She added that the building had been well alight when crews arrived.
Mr Ryder said: “There were lots of paints, solvents and acetylene and LPG cylinders around and there was an asbestos roof.
