Substation explosion and fire forces evacuation of GP Surgery in Liverpool
EIR-0094An electrical substation in the car park of Rock Court Surgery, a GP practice and walk-in centre on St Oswalds Street in Old Swan, Liverpool, exploded and caught fire on a Wednesday morning. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service crews arrived within nine minutes of being alerted to find the substation well alight following an explosion, with the fire having spread to a nearby campervan, which was badly scorched. Firefighters used breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to fight the blaze, and a 30 metre cordon was set up around the site. The road was closed between Edge Lane and Prescot Road. The GP surgery and walk-in centre lost power and were evacuated. A representative from SP Energy Networks (Scottish Power) attended to assess damage and restore power. The fire was reported extinguished within around 20 minutes of ignition.
Not reported.
- Substations located adjacent to occupied buildings such as medical centres warrant clear emergency evacuation and power loss contingency plans.
- Rapid fire service response and isolation coordination with the network operator can limit fire spread to nearby vehicles and structures.
- Cordons and road closures around damaged electrical infrastructure protect the public and support safe isolation before repair work begins.
Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.