Arson is suspected in a recording studio fire in Liverpool city centre


ARSONISTS may be to blame for a blaze which sent smoke billowing over Liverpool city centre.
[Linked Image]
A community recording studio in Parr Street was devastated by the fire which destroyed thousands of pounds of equipment – including computers and mixing desks –and threatened to engulf nearby businesses.

Flames swept through the studio, based in former Greek restaurant The Parthenon, and spread to an adjoining builders’ merchants and garage.

Seel Street, Parr Street, Slater Street and Fleet Street were all cordoned off by the emergency services at 4.10pm on Saturday.

It left motorists facing city centre traffic chaos.

Hordes of bystanders watching the fire were moved back by officers who feared the smoke could contain traces of asbestos.

Onlooker Pete Carr, a photographer, said: “At first I thought it was nothing in particular but then it started to really get going. It sounded like there were firecrackers going off inside.

“You could feel the heat and soon all of the roof was exposed.”

“Police said there was asbestos and told people to stand back but everyone in the pubs on Slater Street were stood outside with their pints in their hands watching it.”

Crews spent five hours fully extinguishing the blaze with flames at one point just feet away from trendy bar Alma de Cuba.

Director Alex Hannah saw debris from the roof fall on top of vehicles parked in a car park behind the studio.

He watched nervously as the flames headed towards the Seel Street nightspot.

He said: “Within 10 minutes the place had been gutted. It just went crazy all of a sudden. The flames started coming over towards the bar and got quite close. Had it been a hot, sunny, dry day it could have been a different story altogether.

“Smoke came right through the building.

“We’re just glad the fire didn’t spread.”

Naomi Smith, 22, raised the alarm after seeing smoke while stood at the window of her Duke Street apartment.

She said: The roof was popping and crackling . I was petrified, I thought it was going to explode.”

Bars as far away as Concert Square said the blaze had an impact on trade as customers abandoned their drinks to escape the fumes.

The thickness of the smoke was enough to set off the fire alarms at Lloyds bar The Lime Kiln 100 metres away in Fleet Street.

Customer Chris Browne said: “When we got outside we couldn’t see 50 yards in front of us and I didn’t know where the smoke was coming from. It was so thick, you could barely see a thing.”

A Merseyside Fire and Rescue spokesman said the investigation to determine the cause of the fire was ongoing and nothing had yet been ruled out.

THE POST