Pictures show the scale of damage to an abandoned hospital in a fire described as the "worst ever".
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) received a 999 call at around 4.07pm on Wednesday, July 20, following reports of a huge fire at Park House on Haigh Road in Waterloo. Four fire engines arrived at the scene nine minutes later and found two floors of the three-storey building well alight.
The fire then started reaching the roof of the building and another two fire engines as well as an aerial appliance rushed to the scene with ambulance crews and Merseyside Police. A number of roads were closed, causing lots of delays for commuters on Crosby Road South and areas surrounding Haigh Road.
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People living nearby said they could smell the fire from "miles away" and were "devastated" when they saw the extent of the damage. It seems like MFRS had to cut though a wooden board to gain entry to the building before using high volume pumps to put out the flames.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "This is a well-developed fire affecting all three floors of the building, approximately 100m x 50m. The incident is sectorised as follows: Sector 1 – two main jets in use. Sector 2 – the aerial appliance is be prepared for use.
" Merseyside Police are also in attendance to assist with traffic management."
The roof of Park House has completely burnt and collapsed, with beams being visible as firefighters worked to dampen down the building. A woman living in the flats opposite said she was sad to see the former hospital on fire again.
She said: "I've lived here for about five years and have seen it go up four times. Lots of kids hang around there, they are there ever night.
"It's devastating to see the damage, it's a lovely building and I feel like it could be used for more. It should have been sold at a good price to a hotel, it would have been beautiful.
"Instead they want to get permission through for flats."
Another person who lives near the scene said: "This has to be the worst ever fire here, I've seen it go up before but this is the first time i've seen it in the roof. Something needs to be done to get this under control.
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