MOST EXTENSIVE FIRE AT LIVERPOOL.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 61, 28 February 1843, Page 3

MOST EXTENSIVE FIRE AT LIVERPOOL.

Liverpool, Friday, Sep. 23.—A fire, the most extensive and destructive that has occurred in this town for years past, broke out at about three o’clock this morning in a paint manufactory and a warehouse in Paisley-street, which is a small street leading from Great-Howard-street to Bath-street. It is surrounded by warehouses and sheds used for bonded goods, and filled with produce to the top. From the inflammable nature of the materials, and a stiff breeze from the north-west blowing at the time, the fire spread with inconceivable rapidity, extending up to the front of Great Howard street, and across Formby street, and up to Neptune street, covering an extent of two acres of ground. Up to half-past nine o’clock, fifteen warehouses of the first class, most of them five stories high, and about the same number of bonded sheds of similar dimensions had been burnt, and the fire was still unchecked, being greatly favoured by the high wind blowing. We regret to state, that the dreadful occurrence has been attended with several casualties and the loss of some lives ; one of the most active of the fire brigade perished, by the falling of the gable end of a warehouse, which, with all the burning mass it contained, fell outwards into Formby street, and buried him beneath the burning mass, and at the tame time many persons working on the opposite side of the street were grievously injured by the falling of the front wall of the warehouse. . .Several of them were speedily got out, and carried to the hospital; two of them, we believe, are .in a hopeless - state. It would be impossible to form any estimate of the amount of property consumed, as the fire is not yet over.; but we should think that it would exceed 500,000/.