Mold - Fire Safety in Focus
Mold — Yr Wyddgrug in Welsh — sits at the administrative heart of Flintshire, combining a busy market town centre with a spread of light industrial estates, commercial premises and residential streets that together create a varied and active fire risk environment. As the county town, it is home to County Hall, the Crown Court, Theatr Clwyd, and a high street of independent retailers, cafés and hospitality businesses. Beyond the town centre, the surrounding area takes in industrial parks at Rhydymwyn and along the A541 corridor, as well as residential communities extending towards Mynydd Isa, Sychdyn and Buckley.
For those who own, manage or occupy premises in and around Mold, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a direct legal duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and to keep it under regular review. That duty falls on the responsible person — whether the employer, managing agent, landlord or building owner — and it applies across almost every non-domestic premises in the area.
Two significant industrial fires in the space of two years, both within a short distance of the town centre, illustrate how quickly a workplace fire can escalate and how far the consequences can extend beyond the site boundary.
Synthite Chemical Factory Fire, Denbigh Road — April 2024
On 30 April 2024, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Synthite chemical plant on Denbigh Road, Mold at 2:06pm, following reports of a fire in the production area. Synthite, which has operated from the Alyn Works site in Mold since the 1950s, manufactures and supplies formaldehyde and related chemical products. The fire spread rapidly, with multiple explosions reported by witnesses in the surrounding streets. At the height of the incident, crews from Mold, Deeside, Wrexham and Llandudno were on site, with additional foam support drafted in from South Wales.
Residents across a wide area of Mold were advised to keep windows and doors shut and to switch off air conditioning. The A541 Denbigh Road was closed in both directions, disrupting traffic across the town and beyond. One person was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital for treatment, subsequently discharged the same evening. The Health and Safety Executive confirmed it was making enquiries.
The environmental consequences extended well beyond the site boundary. Traces of formaldehyde were later detected in the River Alyn, and Natural Resources Wales issued precautionary guidance to livestock and pet owners to keep animals away from the river. A multi-agency recovery programme involving Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales, Flintshire County Council and the emergency services ran for several weeks, with contaminated material removed from the site over a 28-day period from June 2024.
Drone footage of firefighters tackling the blaze at Synthite overnight. Video: LeaderLive / Josh Asbo Taylor.
At premises handling flammable or hazardous substances, the correct identification and control of those materials is a core requirement of a fire risk assessment under the FSO. Where those substances are present in quantity, the assessment must address storage, containment, ignition sources and the behaviour of the materials in a fire — not simply record their existence.
XPS Foam Manufacturing Fire, Antelope Industrial Park, Rhydymwyn — October 2022
On 25 October 2022, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service responded to a major fire at the XPS Foam manufacturing facility on Antelope Industrial Park, Rhydymwyn, near Mold. The alarm was raised at approximately 7:50am. Six fire appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform, the Incident Command Unit and the Environmental Protection Unit attended, alongside Wales Air Ambulance and the Welsh Ambulance Service. One member of staff was taken by road to Wrexham Maelor Hospital for treatment.
A significant smoke plume was visible for several miles across Flintshire, and local residents were advised to close windows and doors. The fire service subsequently confirmed 100 per cent fire damage to the building. Following investigation, a spokesperson for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service stated that the fire had started in a granulator, and that the most probable cause was a dust explosion.
Plumes of black smoke and flames over Flintshire as firefighters tackle the blaze at Antelope Industrial Park. Video: LeaderLive / Sharon Stubbs.
Combustible dust is a recognised but frequently underestimated ignition source at manufacturing premises. Responsible persons at industrial sites should ensure that dust accumulation is specifically addressed within their fire risk assessment, with documented control measures that are actively maintained rather than noted and left unrevisited.
Fire Safety Duties for Responsible Persons in Mold
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, any person who has control of non-domestic premises — or has a degree of control over any part of them — carries legal duties in relation to fire safety. In Mold, that means employers, landlords, managing agents and commercial property owners across the town centre, the retail and hospitality sector, and the industrial estates surrounding the town.
A fire risk assessment is the foundation of that compliance. It must identify the fire hazards present, evaluate the risk to occupants and others who may be affected, and record significant findings along with any remedial action required. Where five or more people are employed, or where the premises are subject to a licence, the assessment must be in writing. It must be reviewed whenever there is reason to believe it is no longer valid — following a significant change to the premises, a change of use, or where a fire or near-miss has occurred.
Premises with multiple occupiers or public access should also hold a documented fire safety policy and a written fire evacuation plan. The evacuation plan should cover all foreseeable scenarios, including the arrangements for any occupants who may not be able to self-evacuate — and where that is the case, evacuation chair training for relevant staff is a practical and increasingly expected part of a complete fire safety provision.
For premises that include fire doors as part of their compartmentation strategy — common in mixed-use town centre buildings, converted commercial premises and older industrial units — regular fire door inspections are an important part of maintaining the passive fire protection on which the risk assessment relies. A fire door that has deteriorated or been incorrectly fitted can allow smoke and flame to spread to escape routes far more quickly than its specification would suggest.
Staff awareness is equally important. The FSO requires that employees receive appropriate fire safety instruction and training, and that they know what to do in the event of a fire. Fire safety training covering the action on discovering a fire, evacuation procedures and assembly points should be provided on induction and refreshed regularly, particularly where there is a turnover of staff or a change to the premises layout or occupation.
Fire Safety Support for Mold and Flintshire
Fletcher Risk Management provides fire risk assessments in Mold and across Flintshire and Wrexham, alongside fire door inspections, fire safety training, evacuation plans, fire safety policies and evacuation chair training. Whether you manage a commercial premises in the town centre, an industrial unit on one of the surrounding estates, or a residential building requiring a landlord fire risk assessment, we can advise on your obligations and help you meet them.
If you are a managing agent or property manager responsible for the common parts of a building, our dedicated service for managing agents sets out how we work and what that process involves.
Fire safety support across the North West and North Wales
Fletcher Risk Management provides fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and fire safety training for responsible persons across Chester, Cheshire, the Wirral, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, North Wales and beyond. To discuss your requirements, please get in touch.
This article is intended for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Responsible persons should seek professional advice tailored to their specific premises and circumstances. Fletcher Risk Management Ltd provides fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, and fire safety training across the North West and North Wales.