Apocalyptic images show fire-ravaged Liverpool car park after 1,000C blaze vaporised the floor
The inferno was hot enough to melt aluminium - but could have been stopped by sprinklers, fire chiefs said
APOCALYPTIC images show the aftermath of a 1,000C car park inferno that turned 1,400 cars to ash - and vaporised the floor.
Flames burst from an exploding Land Rover and spread through all seven levels of the multistorey next to Liverpool's Echo Arena, leaving families stranded and causing at least £10million of damage.
Chilling pictures from inside the gutted structure show rows of burnt out cars covered in rubble.
The only vehicles still recognisable are those parked on the open-air top deck where the flames were not so intense.
The fire inside is said to have been hot enough to melt aluminium - but could have been stopped by sprinklers, fire chiefs said.
Dan Stephens, chief fire officer at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said the temperature was between 800C and 1,000C.
He said: "One thing is for certain - had the building been sprinklered there is every chance that would have suppressed the fire sufficiently then for us to be able to go in and extinguish the fire without it spreading in the way that it did.
"I believe a sprinkler system would certainly have suppressed the fire, it would definitely have limited the spread and given us a much better opportunity to put the fire out before it spread to the extent it did.
"Given the intensity of the fire, given some of the fire incidents we've seen over the past 12 months, I think the fact that no one was injured here and there's been no fatalities... I think that's a very good outcome indeed."
Witnesses described grabbing possessions and running for their lives as the blaze quickly spread to nearby motors.
Sue Wright, wife of former England footballer Mark, said: "It was an old car that exploded as we were leaving the building. We were in our minibus and one of the kids shouted, 'there's a fire!'"
She added: "We've lost everything because our car was right next to the car that exploded."
"My handbag was in it, our cards, cash, everything. We just grabbed the keys and ran."
Cars were heard exploding "every few seconds" as firefighters battled to bring the fire under control into the early hours of New Year's Day.
It took hold around 4.30pm as families headed to the arena to watch the final evening of the Liverpool International Horse Show.
Up to 80 horses stabled on the first level of the car park were rushed to safety by handlers and police.
Motorists who had travelled to the event have been left stranded and residents living nearby had to spend New Year's Eve in a temporary shelter as their apartments were evacuated.
One driver - who filmed our exclusive footage - told The Sun how he fled the third floor as a dark coloured car like a Range Rover exploded in a fireball three rows in front of his car.
His family had been heading to the horse show as a birthday treat - but now face losing their car along with hundreds of others.
The dad said: "We were at the Echo for the horse show which was meant to be a treat for my seven-year-old son’s birthday.
“I was just walking away from my car when I saw a Range Rover parked three rows in front of me on fire. The park started to fill with thick black smoke so I knew I had to get out quickly.
“When I got outside I heard loud explosions which I think must be other cars going up as the fuel in them was obviously catching light.”
"I could hear bang after bang coming from every level. The tyres on the cars were exploding for a good two hours."
Kevin Booth, 44, from Manchester, said: "The flames and the smoke was unbelievable.
"It was frightening, we could hear the bangs of car windows exploding."
Merseyside Police said initial investigations indicated that an "accidental fire within a vehicle caused other cars to ignite".
"We believe that all vehicles parked in the car park have been destroyed and advise owners to contact their insurance companies," the force said.
No-one has been seriously injured, it added.
“We would also like to thank the people who kindly provided transport for customers to enable them to travel home, as well as Liverpool City Council for establishing a relief centre for those needing shelter.”
The fire service said crews rescued two dogs from one of the vehicles inside the car park during efforts to tackle the blaze.
Firefighters worked into the night trying to control the blaze that began on Sunday afternoon.
Crews were first called at 4.42pm and were on scene eight minutes later.
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The horse show organisers said in a statement today: “We are continuing to work with the emergency services who have worked tirelessly throughout the night to bring the fire under control.
“We can confirm again that all people and horses are safe and there were no injuries during this terrible incident.
“We are sorry to customers who were due to attend the evening performance of the Liverpool International Horse Show, which was cancelled as a result of the fire, as well as those people whose vehicles were in the car park and who have been affected by this situation.
“We ask for everyone's patience and understanding while investigations continue.
“We are extremely thankful to the emergency services for their efforts."
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