Wigan in Focus: Fire Safety, Risk and Compliance
Wigan is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester with deep roots in coal mining and textile manufacturing, both of which have shaped its built environment and left a legacy of industrial and commercial premises that are now occupied across a wide range of uses. The borough sits at the junction of the M6 and M61 motorways, making it a significant logistics and distribution hub, and it retains a strong manufacturing base alongside a substantial retail and night-time economy in the town centre. Wigan Pier, once a working coal wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, is now a heritage and leisure destination. The Grand Arcade shopping centre serves the town centre retail offer, and a cluster of bars, clubs and restaurants along King Street and its surrounding streets forms the heart of the borough's evening economy. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the enforcing authority for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 across the borough.
For those who own, manage or occupy non-domestic premises in Wigan, the FSO places a direct legal duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and to keep it under review. Two fires in the borough — the first at a vacant former nightclub on King Street in November 2025, the second at a commercial building in Pemberton in May 2026 — illustrate the fire risks associated with the town's older commercial stock and the scale of response that incidents in densely occupied town centre streets can demand.
Former Nightclub Fire, King Street, Wigan — November 2025
Shortly before 10.30pm on Saturday 22 November 2025, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire at an empty commercial building on King Street in Wigan town centre. Six fire engines from Wigan, Hindley, Leigh and Horwich attended, along with an engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, a Command Unit from Rochdale, an Aerial Ladder Platform from Bolton and an Enhanced Rescue Unit from Ashton-under-Lyne. GMFRS also deployed their drone. Crews arrived to find the building well alight. The fire was fought using two ground monitors and the Aerial Ladder Platform, with a large crowd of people gathering on the street to watch as flames tore through the roof.
The neighbouring Reef Bar and Terrace, immediately adjacent to the fire-hit building, was evacuated — staff, DJs and customers leaving quickly and in good order following the premises' fire plan and the direction of security staff. GMFRS crews worked to ensure the fire did not spread to the adjoining occupied buildings, a task they accomplished despite the scale of the blaze. King Street remained closed as fire crews and police assessed the structural integrity of the building. The fire was not declared out until 3.50am — eleven hours after the initial call — and the street remained shut into the following day. GMFRS and Greater Manchester Police opened an investigation into the cause.
What responsible persons should take from this — vacant and derelict commercial buildings The King Street fire illustrates a well-documented fire risk: vacant commercial premises in town centre locations. Under the FSO, the responsible person for a building does not change when it becomes empty — the owner or building manager retains their compliance obligations for the structure, including the duty to maintain it in a condition that does not present a risk to neighbouring premises and the surrounding area. Vacant buildings that have been accessed by third parties, that have had services isolated, or that have been empty for an extended period require a specific review of their fire risk profile, including the adequacy of security, the condition of any remaining fire safety systems, and the risk to occupants of neighbouring premises in the event of a fire. The speed with which the staff and customers of the adjacent Reef Bar were successfully evacuated is a reminder that a well-practised evacuation plan and trained staff are assets that matter in real incidents, not just on paper.
Commercial Building Fire, Leopold Street, Pemberton — May 2026
Shortly after 5.53pm on Friday 22 May 2026, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire at a commercial building on Leopold Street in Pemberton, Wigan. Five GMFRS engines attended, along with one engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and one from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service — a three-service response reflecting the scale and nature of the incident. Flames were visible through the roof and thick black smoke rose above the area, visible for several miles. Residents in the surrounding streets were advised to remain indoors and keep doors and windows closed, with a chemical smell reported in the area and concerns raised about the composition of the smoke.
Crews remained at the scene through the night and into Saturday 23 May — approximately fourteen hours in total — before the fire was contained and crews moved to damping down hotspots. The cause of the fire was not confirmed publicly. The cross-border response, the public health advisory and the overnight operational commitment all point to a fire involving materials that produced a significant smoke hazard and required sustained suppression to bring under control.
What responsible persons at commercial and industrial premises should take from this The public health advisory issued at Leopold Street — residents told to stay indoors, reports of a chemical smell — is consistent with a fire involving materials that produce hazardous combustion products, whether through the nature of the goods stored, the building's construction materials, or both. Under the FSO and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, responsible persons at commercial premises are required to identify all substances on site that could present a fire or explosion risk and to assess how those substances behave in a fire scenario. A fire risk assessment that does not address the specific smoke and combustion characteristics of the materials present — not just their flammability — is not adequate for premises where an incident could generate a public health impact beyond the building's boundary.
Fire Safety Duties for Responsible Persons in Wigan
Town centre retail and the Grand Arcade. Wigan's retail core, centred on the Grand Arcade shopping centre and the surrounding high street, includes a mix of retail units, food and beverage outlets and service businesses carrying the standard FSO obligations for premises accessible to the public. Written fire risk assessments, adequate means of escape, emergency lighting, fire safety signage and demonstrably current staff training are baseline requirements. For multi-unit retail centres, the managing agent or centre management team is responsible for the common areas and must ensure their assessment reflects the full range of occupiers and public footfall, including peak trading periods.
Licensed premises and the night-time economy. The bars, clubs and restaurants along King Street and the surrounding area carry FSO obligations that are directly relevant to the scenario at the former nightclub fire in November 2025. Licensed premises must hold a written fire risk assessment and a documented evacuation plan that reflects the premises at full capacity and under realistic operating conditions, including the point at which a fire in an adjacent building requires rapid evacuation of customers and staff. Staff training should include procedures for the specific layout of the premises and for co-ordinating with emergency services when events in neighbouring buildings affect the surrounding street.
Vacant and disused commercial buildings. Wigan's town centre, like many Northern towns, includes a number of formerly occupied commercial buildings that are either awaiting redevelopment or have stood empty for an extended period. The responsible person for a vacant building retains their FSO obligations and their duty to ensure the building does not present an unacceptable risk to neighbouring properties. Security, services isolation, periodic inspection and liaison with the local fire authority are all elements of managing the fire risk of a vacant commercial building responsibly.
Industrial, logistics and manufacturing premises. The M6/M61 junction brings a significant concentration of logistics, distribution and light manufacturing premises to the borough. Responsible persons at these premises must hold fire risk assessments that address the fire load of the goods being handled, the adequacy of detection for the occupancy pattern of the building, and any specific risks arising from the materials stored or processes carried out on site. Where flammable or hazardous substances are present, DSEAR obligations apply alongside the FSO.
Wigan Pier and heritage venues. Wigan Pier and the associated waterfront heritage buildings present specific fire safety considerations for a heritage-designated premises with public access and events use. Fire risk assessments for heritage venues must address the limitations on alteration that listed status may impose, the fire behaviour of original construction materials, and the adequacy of means of escape from complex historic building layouts.
Care homes, HMOs and residential premises. The borough's care homes require Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for all residents with relevant needs, and evacuation chair training for staff is an expected element of compliance. HMO landlords must hold written fire risk assessments and ensure that fire doors are in serviceable condition. Where the HMO is subject to mandatory licensing, the fire safety conditions interact with but do not replace the FSO obligations.
Managing agents. Agents responsible for the common parts of commercial or residential buildings in Wigan carry FSO obligations for those areas. Our dedicated service for managing agents sets out how we work with agents and property managers.
Fire Safety Support for Wigan and Greater Manchester
Fletcher Risk Management provides fire risk assessments in Wigan and across Greater Manchester, alongside fire door inspections, fire safety training, evacuation plans, fire safety policies and evacuation chair training. Whether you manage a retail or hospitality premises in the town centre, an industrial or logistics unit, a vacant commercial building, a care home or an HMO, we can advise on your obligations and help you meet them. Please get in touch.
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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.