People were forced out of their homes during the early hours of the morning after a fire.
A block of flats on Mosslawn Road in Kirkby was evacuated on Wednesday morning after emergency services rushed to reports of a blaze. Fire crews and police were called to the communal area at around 5.30am on Wednesday, February 8.
At the scene firefighters found a ground floor storage unit was on fire. Onlookers told the ECHO that shortly before 6am, people lined the streets watching smoke billowing from the building.
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One person, who did not wish to be named, said: "I just saw smoke coming from the building and all the fire and police. Loads of us were standing there wondering what had happened.
"The flats were evacuated, they were outside for hours, they've not long left. But it's no surprise, it's mayhem here, there's always something there and we've all got little ones, they have to see it when they go to school."
Another woman said she woke to hear a "commotion" and saw the "flashing lights" during the early hours of the morning.
Three fire engines attended and crews put the fire out, before handing the incident over to Merseyside police. There's currently no reports of any injuries. A man 35-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of arson and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
At the scene, damage could be seen on the bottom floor of the flats, where just outside sat a child's bicycle. One mum on the school run said: "I didn't see the fire, I just heard a lot of noise and came out."
Another added they could "smell" the remnants of the fire. Police were also seen carrying out enquiries throughout the morning.
A spokesperson for Merseyside police said: "We have arrested a man following a fire at a flat in Kirkby earlier this morning (Wednesday 8 February). At around 5.30am, officers were called to a report of a fire in the communal area of a flat on Mosslawn Road.
"Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire. A 35-year-old man from Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of arson and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
"He remains in police custody. We are in the early stages of investigating this incident and would appeal for anyone with information to contact us @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference 23000112352."
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