Woolton Hall fire: Fire service's statement in FULL amid Liverpool building blaze

Firefighters had last night encouraged families to keep their doors and windows closed - due to a large blaze at a former country house.

Crews dashed to Woolton Hall, an 18th century mansion in Liverpool, after it caught alight at around 8pm on Tuesday. They remained at the three-storey stone built building for several hours, tackling the blaze as it grew in size and ferocity.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service issued updates to the media, the first of which urged people to avoid the area. Its first statement read: "Fire crews have been called to a fire at Woolton Hall, Speke Road, Woolton, Liverpool this evening. Crews were alerted at 8.09pm and on scene at 8.16pm, with five fire engines and an aerial appliance in attendance. Crews arrived to find a three storey stone built building fully involved in fire around 40 by 30 metres in size."

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Videos and pictures were shared widely online, showing the huge fire take hold of Woolton Hall on Speke Road. Drivers were warned to stay away from the area while at least eight fire engines were at the scene.

In a further update, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service continued: "Water supplies have been established and Merseyside Police are on scene assisting with traffic management, the road has been closed in both directions.

"Please avoid the area. Residents nearby should keep doors and windows closed. If you have an existing medical condition, keep medicines nearby and dial NHS 111 if any ill effects are experienced."

And, at 9.30pm, the final statement from the firefighters read: "There are now eight fire engines and an aerial appliance in attendance. The historic building, measuring 100 by 100 metres in size is well alight and the roof has collapsed. The incident has been divided into sectors and an MFRS service drone is being deployed to gain situational awareness from height.

"The aerial appliance is in use suppressing the fire and efforts are being made to protect an adjacent building from becoming involved in the fire. The incident is ongoing."

But the operation in the Liverpool suburb was scaled down in the early hours of Wednesday. No serious injuries have been reported, however the building is understood to have been severely damaged.

Jonathon Wild, a local who has been campaigning for years to save the historic building from ruin, said last night: "This is the same as Liverpool Cathedral going on fire. The same category listing. I am absolutely devastated that this has happened and I ask that the powers that be hold a full investigation in to this fire and the outcome is that this building is somehow rebuilt."

Liverpool Echo reports a loud "explosion" and a huge black plume of smoke was reported near to the historic building in 2019. That time, the fire had started at a derelict building next to the Grade-I Listed hall.