What happened at the King’s Dock car park?

On 31 December 2017, a devastating fire broke out in the multi-storey car park adjacent to the Liverpool Echo Arena.

The blaze began at around 16:42 on the third floor and destroyed approximately 1,400 vehicles. Nearby buildings were evacuated due to thick smoke and events at the arena were cancelled.

How did the King’s Dock car park fire start?

The fire is believed to have started accidentally in a Land Rover on the third level. Investigations indicated that the blaze spread rapidly due to the design of the car park and the materials involved. The structure was demolished and replaced in 2019.

What can the industry learn from the King's Dock car park fire?

The fire prompted a review of fire safety standards in the UK for multi-storey car parks, encouraging stricter building regulations and the adoption of modern fire engineering solutions.