Anger at Woolworth's fire show

Mike Keegan

August 04, 2009

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The fake woolworth's fire display

The fake woolworth's fire display 1/4 Play Slideshow

A FIRE show has been branded a `disgrace' after entertaining crowds with a re-enactment of one of the worst fires in Manchester's history.

Officials at the Odiham fire show, in Hampshire, recreated 1979's tragic inferno at Woolworth's in which 10 people died.

As a grand finale to the two-day event, they built a Woolworth's store from pallets and even painted on windows with metal bars.

In the actual disaster, firefighters were forced to cut through window bars to get to those trapped.

The mock up was then set on fire.

One spectator, who did not want to named, told the M.E.N. the `performance' left many in the crowd 'stunned'.

He said: "A chap came out with a microphone and said he was the manager of Woolworths and that he was worried he wouldn't get his fire safety certificate because of the bars on the windows.

"The next thing you know the whole thing has gone up in flames and fire engines have come to put the fire out. The kids loved it but a lot of the adults who could remember what had happened thought it was in poor taste.

"It was a serious error of judgement."

Organisers of the weekend, which features firefighting drills and demonstrations, claim the display was not solely based on the Manchester disaster.

Former store worker Steve Wood, 50, who survived the blaze, slammed the re-enactment.

'Disgusting'

He said: "It sounds absolutely disgusting and beggars belief. A disgrace. It was horrendous that day.

"And it appears as though they have laid the blame at the door of the store manager which is just wrong."

The Oldham Street blaze went down in history as one of Britain's worst when fire ripped through the busy branch 30 years ago. Deadly fumes filled the air when furniture caught fire. Customers were killed as they shopped and ate in the café.

As a result, new fire safety laws were introduced to prevent a similar tragedy.

The Hampshire event, attended by thousands of people, was aimed at promoting fire safety and draws a large audience of families and enthusiasts from across the country.

It is organised annually by Odiham fire station, part of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and is in its 18th year.

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had not meant to cause any offence.

He added that the scenario was meant to be a recreation of a number of fires Woolworth's had experienced including one on their own region and not solely the Manchester disaster.

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Pippa, Manchester (04/08/2009 at 07:18)

I was 14 at the time of the fire and can remember the sheer horror felt by everyone when this happened. Can't believe that the Fire Service could be so unfeeling and thoughtless.

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 08:22)

Shouldn't this nothing story be in the Hampshire Chronicle?

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 08:26)

For those who are interested, search for 'Odiham Fire Show' on the Hampshire Chronicle website for a story about the show with NO mention of Manchester or Woolworths. Sounds like it was a great day.

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (04/08/2009 at 09:24)

come on people, an event that happen 30 years ago should be used for training and information though 10 people were killed.
We all learn by mistakes and that mistake changed everything for all of us when it came to the issuing of fire certificates for buildings etc.

Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (04/08/2009 at 09:32)

Nota thing for a "show"
If they wanted to get accross the danger of fire I think they could have chosen a better way.
P.S It wasn't a Saturday as I was at work on Port Street and saw it happen in my lunch hour

theface, City Centre (04/08/2009 at 09:37)

Sometimes these are the shock tactics needed to make people realise just how important fire safety is.

Booie 31, Torpoint Cornwall (04/08/2009 at 09:56)

I thought it was the tragic fire at the sweat shop in China Lane where firefighters had to cut the bars, using hack saws, from the windows. This brought sweeping changes in the fire regulations protecting workers, whilst the Woolworths fire highlighted the dangerous polyuethane foam which was widely being used in furniture at that time. This foam, when ignited, gave off, I think, cyanide gas. The poor people who were in the funiture department never stood a chance. This is an infortunate part of human nature, some innocent person has to die before we realise hang on we should not be doing that or that should not be like that. Sometime we need a shock to pull us back from our complacency. I am just rereading (I last read it 25 years or so ago) L T C Rolt's "Red for Danger" which is the history of safety on the Railways. It's worth reading just to see how naive/senseless/ stupid/thoughtless/pig headed etc. we humans are. Both fires, as in all fires , were a tragedy which should not have happened. My gran used to say "fire was a great servant but a poor master."

chillbill, oldham (04/08/2009 at 10:11)

So:

He added that the scenario was meant to be a recreation of a number of fires Woolworth's had experienced including one on their own region and not solely the Manchester disaster.

Why on earth did some un caring person paint FW Woolworth on the front?! My sister worked for Woolweorths at this time and clearly remmebers the fire. There are bettter ways of demonstrating this.

Lets look it at another way Umpire, yes the fire was 30 years ago but the pain doesnt go away. What you say if an Aiport did a demo on a plane fire and made it look like the plane that burnt up at Ringway years ago?

Angie33 , Manchester (04/08/2009 at 10:25)

Seems a very strange way to make a fire safety point.I was in Woolworths on the day of the fire.I was the only person on the first floor getting some last minute holiday shopping.After a few minutes looking around I became aware of 3 schoolgirls at the bottom of the escalator.They seemed to be whispering and looked worried.Within a minute or less the till worker appeared and told us to leave quickly.Smoke was now rolling down the escalator.When I got onto the stairs they were already packed with people leaving the store and people were falling over at the bottom.I watched the news on TV then went on holiday.When I got back I made the call to the police.Im sure I mentioned the girls,but only in passing.It was a long time after that I wondered were they had anything to do with the fire.It still haunts me.Whenever I go ito a large store,theatre I have my escape plan and check where exits are.It was a terrible experience and in those days people didnt understand how it felt to have been there and heard the screams /panic.It must have been terrible for those who lost loved ones in this way.This stunt does seem disrespectful to say the least.

Jay B, oldham (04/08/2009 at 11:02)

oh dear! the use of woolworths was probably used as the business has gone bust and they could use its name freely! its still a highly recognisible name.
dont think its got anything to do with the manchester store accident! at least its highlighting the efficiency of the fire crews.

CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (04/08/2009 at 11:56)

They hate Northerners.

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 12:08)

CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside..read the last sentence of the story and tell me why Mancunians are so self-important that they think the scenario applies to them. Woolworths was a UK wide store chain, not just one shop at the end of Coronation Street.

Northerners just cannot let anything go. That's why they are stuck 20 years behind the rest of the country unable to progress.

CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (04/08/2009 at 12:12)

Why did they choose the Manchester fire instead of the one in their own area then! They do hate us, and stereotype us.

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 12:26)

Only the M.E.N. has linked the re-enactment to the manchester fire. At no other point during either this story or the one on the Hampshire Chronicle website is a reference to manchester made.

If you ask me the journalist who wrote this has taken it upon himself to create a Manchester related story and put a bit of a spin on it.

Think about it. How many other disasters large and small are remembered through re-enactment, films, TV , public gatherings etc. Life goes on and lessons aren't learned by sticking your head in the sand.

Mr Manchester (04/08/2009 at 12:43)

'Northerners just cannot let anything go. That's why they are stuck 20 years behind the rest of the country unable to progress.'

Where are you comparing us to? Devon? Cornwall? Luton? These southern areas which are '20 years ahead'? Hilarious.

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 12:56)

Mr Manchester. uncanny...I AM from Luton (well a village just outside).

Mr Manchester (04/08/2009 at 13:06)

I'd keep that quiet if I were you ;)

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 13:11)

Righto. Only you, me and the MEN readership will know. That makes 23 of us all told.

Mr Manchester (04/08/2009 at 13:23)

24. My wife just walked past...

Jan Elliott (04/08/2009 at 13:48)

Er, Luton....isn't that where they are still trying to blow out lightbulbs???

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 14:05)

No, but it's got an airport.

Hampshire Fire (04/08/2009 at 14:36)

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service extends its unreserved apologies for any unintended offence that may have been caused due to the fire demonstration that took place at this year’s Odiham Fire Show (1-2 August 2009). The fire demonstration had not meant to cause any offence and was a recreation of a number of fires that occurred in retail premises across the UK, including Hampshire, in the 1950's, 60's and 70's and not solely the tragedy that occurred in a Woolworth store in Manchester in May 1979.

Events such as open days and fire shows are attended by thousands of people and afford us a valuable opportunity to promote fire safety and convey important educational messages to a wide audience, as well as raising money for various charities. The Odiham Fire Show is organised by a local group of fire service enthusiasts and is aimed at raising awareness and promoting fire safety, drawing a large audience of families and enthusiasts from across the country.

kevin best (04/08/2009 at 14:49)

I agree that this fire demonstration would be seen in bad taste by a majority, but the reality is that the Woolworths fire in Manchester, left us with a vary powerful fire safety message. Fire Services have become very proactive and we all know that fire can kill but do we all know how to protect ourselves, our families and our work mates. Manchester was tragic and I think I am right in saying that we have not had a similar disaster on that scale since. Education on Fire Safety in the home and in the workplace seems to be more affective when it is hard hitting and visual. The history of Manchester's Woolworth's fire showed us that if it could go wrong it would go wrong, poor or no staff training, unserviceable fire extinguishers, no 999 call's from the store, fire alarm not operated, emergency exit adjacent to the majority of the dead was padlocked and chained and so it goes on, is there any better way in today's legislative climate, that a fire safety presentation can get it's message across? As for having ago at Northerners I think not, I am a Mancunian and I was a Fireman in GMC at the time of the Woolworth's fire, although not in attendance at this incident, I had access as we all did to the fact's and have used this message throughout my career. I also served for several years at Odiham fire station and was alway's harping on about the Woolworth's fire so maybe thats where they have picked up the thread. To conclude the lad's at Odiham and in particular the Watch Manager do a fantastic job in raising thousands of pounds for the Fire Sevice Benevolent Fund, so yes bad taste for some and better in the confines of a lecture room, but it may save alife so don't be too harsh when you pik n mix.

Kev B

Mr Manchester (04/08/2009 at 15:27)

Very honourable, Kev. So, in effect, this is all down to you?

'is there any better way in today's legislative climate, that a fire safety presentation can get it's message across?'

Well, yes, judging from the photo of that little knock-up. Odiham's firefighters might want to scratch together a few IQ points next time, and select a theme less distateful to families of victims and the survivors of the real Woolworh's disaster.

Is It Me? (04/08/2009 at 15:47)

Gruntfuttock.Where have you been for the past 40 years. Last I heard,you were on Round the Horne!

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