Dozens of people called 999 after seeing huge plumes of smoke billowing over Liverpool from a fire in Chinatown .
The dramatic scenes unfolded on Saturday evening, with people reporting seeing the smoke from all around the city and across the water in Wirral .
The fire service told the ECHO 32 people called them at the height of the blaze, which turned out to involve rubbish burning on waste ground off Cookson Street.
Just two fire engines were needed to deal with the blaze, which also led to a police response.
But the incident produced striking amounts of black smoke which led many to fear the worst - and call for the emergency services.
ECHO readers sent pictures and video showing the billowing cloud obscuring the Anglican Cathedral, while others shared image of the fire itself burning behind red hoardings.
Witnesses at the scene said the site had been used for fly-tipping recently, with some reporting a white van turning up at the scene and dumping waste.
The fire could be seen from the waterfront at Birkenhead, but initial fears it involved a flats building were put to rest after it was confirmed the area affected was wasteland.
Cookson Street is close to the stalled New Chinatown development.
Anyone with information about the blaze should contact police on the non-emergency 101 number.
