Old Swan Substation Explosion Triggers Fire and Road Closure, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• Explosion of the Old Swan substation has resulted in fire on St Oswalds Street, near Rock Court Surgery, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
• The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service received a call at about 8.20am, arriving at the scene in just nine minutes.
• Initially three fire appliances responded to the incident.
• From the electrical substation, the fire quickly spread to the nearby campervan, causing it some heavy scorch damage.
• Smoke from the fire could be seen from various parts of Liverpool, including Green Lane and Prescot Road.
• Patients and staff members in the nearby walk-in centre and GP surgery were evacuated following loss of electricity.
• St Oswalds Street was cordoned off from Edge Lane to Prescot Road.
• The 30 metre cordon was put in place around the incident scene.
• Scottish Power arrived to contain and evaluate the damage at the substation.
• Merseyside Police helped to control the traffic flow.
• The firefighters advised people to stay away from the area.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 2, 2026 – An electrical substation exploded and caught fire near Rock Court Surgery on St Oswalds Street, sending large clouds of smoke into the sky and prompting an emergency response from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

The incident happened at the substation in the car park of Rock Court Surgery, which operates as a doctors’ surgery and walk-in centre. The fire service was alerted at approximately 8.23am, following reports of an explosion and a blaze at the electrical installation.

According to information published by the Liverpool Echo in its report, firefighters found the substation well alight when they arrived. The fire had also spread to a vehicle parked nearby, identified in images from the scene as a campervan.

The smoke was visible across the surrounding area, including from Green Lane and Prescot Road. Images supplied to the Liverpool Echo showed thick smoke rising above the incident site, while another image showed a woman running away from the fire.

How did firefighters respond to the blaze?

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service initially sent three fire engines to the scene. The first crews arrived about nine minutes after being alerted, according to a statement quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

The fire service spokesperson said firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were tackling the blaze with two hose-reel jets. Crews also requested that a representative from Scottish Power attend because the fire involved electrical equipment.

The spokesperson said the substation would need to be isolated before firefighters could fully extinguish the remaining fire. This meant the emergency response required coordination between the fire service and the electricity network operator.

The response included several safety measures. Firefighters established a 30-metre cordon around the incident, while the road was closed to protect members of the public and allow emergency crews to work safely.

One fire engine remained at the scene after a Scottish Power representative arrived to assess the damage. The fire service continued to advise people to stay away from the area while the incident was ongoing.

Which roads were closed in Old Swan?

St Oswalds Street was closed between Edge Lane and Prescot Road following the explosion and fire.

The closure was introduced to help emergency services manage the scene and prevent vehicles and pedestrians from entering the cordoned-off area. Merseyside Police attended to assist with traffic management.

The road restrictions were particularly significant because the incident occurred near a medical facility and on a route connected to busy roads in the Old Swan area. Drivers were advised to avoid the location and use alternative routes while the response continued.

The fire service did not give a specific time for the full reopening of the road in the information quoted by the Liverpool Echo. The road was expected to remain affected while Scottish Power isolated the electrical equipment and crews completed their work.

Was anyone injured in the fire?

The available report did not confirm any injuries resulting from the Old Swan substation explosion.

Staff at the nearby medical centre were evacuated after the building lost power. The evacuation was described as a precaution while firefighters dealt with the electrical fire and assessed risks around the substation.

The presence of a campervan next to the substation added to the concern at the scene. The vehicle caught fire and was left with significant scorch marks. However, the published report did not state that anyone inside the vehicle was injured.

A crowd gathered outside as firefighters worked to control the blaze. Emergency crews maintained the cordon to keep people at a safe distance from the fire, electrical equipment and vehicle damage.

What did witnesses say about the explosion?

A woman who was close to the scene told the Liverpool Echo that she heard a loud bang at about 8.15am.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, she said: “At 8.15am we heard a bang. The whole substation was on fire. There was smoke everywhere.”

The witness described the situation as frightening because the substation was close to parked cars. She said people were concerned that the fire could spread to other vehicles and reported that the campervan had been badly damaged.

She also said firefighters arrived within about 10 minutes and that the road was closed. According to her account, the visible fire had been put out by approximately 8.40am, although the wider incident continued because the medical centre was still without power and Scottish Power was assessing the electrical infrastructure.

A man working close to the scene also described seeing smoke rising into the air. He told the Liverpool Echo that two fire engines were present and that he believed electrical units had caught fire.

The man said the incident was attended to quickly and suggested that the situation was less serious than some people nearby believed. His account reflected the rapid arrival of firefighters, although the fire service continued to manage the scene because the substation had to be isolated before all remaining risks could be removed.

What happened to Rock Court Surgery?

Rock Court Surgery and its nearby walk-in centre lost power after the substation caught fire. Staff at the medical centre were evacuated while emergency services dealt with the incident.

The loss of electricity affected the building’s normal operation. Scottish Power was working to restore the electrics inside the premises after assessing the damage to the substation.

The available report did not confirm how long the medical centre would remain closed or whether appointments and walk-in services would be relocated. The Liverpool Echo said it had approached Rock Court Surgery and Scottish Power for comments.

Patients and visitors planning to attend the facility were therefore advised to check directly with the medical centre or follow any updates issued by the surgery and local emergency services before travelling to the area.

What did the fire service advise residents and drivers?

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service urged people to avoid the area while the incident was ongoing.

The advice applied to pedestrians, motorists and anyone planning to visit the nearby medical facilities. People were asked not to approach the cordon because firefighters and electricity workers needed room to operate and because damaged electrical equipment can continue to present hazards after flames have been reduced.

The road closure also meant that drivers using St Oswalds Street between Edge Lane and Prescot Road needed to find an alternative route. Police officers were present to assist with traffic management and support the emergency response.

The fire service’s warning remained in place while Scottish Power assessed the substation and worked to isolate the installation. The full extent of the damage had not been confirmed in the report.

What is the latest known position?

A Scottish Power representative attended the scene and began assessing the damage, according to the fire service statement quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

One fire engine remained at the location, while a cordon continued to be maintained around the substation. The nearby walk-in centre had lost power and had been evacuated.

The report did not establish the cause of the explosion. No confirmed explanation was given for why the substation caught fire, and no final assessment of the damage was available at the time of publication.

The Liverpool Echo said it had contacted Rock Court Surgery and Scottish Power for further comment. Additional information could clarify the cause of the fire, the length of the power outage, the reopening of the road and when the medical centre would resume normal services.

Background to the Old Swan substation explosion

Electrical substations form part of the infrastructure used to distribute electricity to homes, businesses and public buildings. When a substation catches fire, emergency crews must manage both the visible blaze and the possibility that electrical equipment remains energised.

That is why firefighters requested the attendance of Scottish Power before the fire could be fully extinguished. The electricity company’s role was to isolate the equipment, assess the damage and work on restoring power to affected premises.

The Old Swan incident occurred beside Rock Court Surgery and its walk-in centre, making evacuation and traffic control important parts of the response. The fire also spread to a nearby campervan, increasing the immediate risk to vehicles and people close to the substation.

The information available from the Liverpool Echo did not confirm whether the explosion was caused by an equipment fault, overheating, external damage or another issue. A formal explanation would need to come from Scottish Power or another investigating authority.

How could this affect Old Swan residents and patients?

The main short-term effects for local residents are likely to be road disruption, reduced access to the medical centre and possible interruptions to electricity services while the damaged equipment is inspected and repaired.

People travelling to Rock Court Surgery or the walk-in centre should check whether services are operating before setting out. Patients with appointments may need to contact the practice for updated instructions, particularly if power has not been fully restored.

Drivers should allow extra time for journeys around St Oswalds Street and avoid the closed section between Edge Lane and Prescot Road until authorities confirm that it has reopened. Residents should also avoid approaching the cordon, even if the smoke has cleared, because electrical infrastructure can remain hazardous during recovery work.

The longer-term effect will depend on the extent of the damage and the time required for Scottish Power to replace or repair the affected equipment. Further updates from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseyside Police, Scottish Power and Rock Court Surgery should establish when the area can safely return to normal.