Full Breakdown
Massive Blaze Rips Through Disused IM Marsh Campus in Liverpool
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Fire Breaks Out at Former Student Accommodation
On Saturday, October 17, a large fire erupted in an unoccupied former student-accommodation building on the IM Marsh campus of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), located on Barkhill Road at the Mossley Hill–Aigburth border. The structure measured roughly 100 metres by 20 metres. Fire crews were dispatched at 15:41 and arrived on scene within nine minutes, finding a “well-developed” fire in the roof.
Emergency-Service Response
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service deployed eight fire engines and an aerial appliance initially, later scaling the operation to three engines and one aerial unit as the blaze was contained. Firefighters fought the fire externally with main-branch hoses and internally with breathing-apparatus crews using hose-reel jets. The service’s drone was used to locate hotspots, and all utilities to the building were isolated.
Merseyside Police managed cordons on Barkhill Road and North Sudley Road, turning back members of the public and advising residents to keep doors and windows closed. The fire service warned anyone with a pre-existing medical condition to keep treatment supplies nearby and to call NHS 111 if ill effects occurred.
University and Community Impact
LJMU confirmed that the campus has been vacant since 2020, with no teaching or student-facing activity. A university spokesperson said the institution is cooperating closely with emergency services and thanked them for their swift response. No casualties were reported. Local residents were instructed to avoid the area while the incident remained ongoing.
Data & Statistics
- Initial attendance: eight fire engines + one aerial appliance (plus a later reduction to three engines + one aerial unit).
- Building size: approximately 100 m × 20 m.
- Time from alarm to arrival: nine minutes.
Verbatim Quote
- “Firefighters have made good progress and the incident has been scaled down to three fire engines and one aerial appliance.” — Rescue Service