Video and pictures: Huge fire at garden centre in Wilmslow

June 29, 2011

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The blaze caused extensive damage to the centre (Picture: Vince Cole)

The blaze caused extensive damage to the centre (Picture: Vince Cole) 1/6 Play Slideshow

Over 70 firefighters tackled a huge blaze at a garden centre. Crews were called to Wilmslow Garden Centre, on Manchester Road, Wilmslow, just after 5.30am today.

A spokesman for Cheshire fire service said that the fire was 'well developed' when crews arrived and they are now bringing the blaze under control.

Fifteen fire engines and two aerial appliances attended the scene and plumes of smoke could be seen across the area.

Video sent in by an MEN reader..

The fire had spread to a total of four greenhouses, each measuring around 40 metres by 20 metres.

Crews were able to remove a number of fireworks from a store to prevent an explosion and they also cooled down a number of gas cylinders on the site.

Firefighters manage to surround the fire and prevent it spreading to nearby premises.

At the height of the incident over 70 firefighters were involved in tackling it.

Reader Varun Jairath sent us this video of the blaze ...

The damage to the building is reported to be 'extensive'.

The fire has forced the closure of Manchester Road and traffic is queuing in both directions between the Dean Row Road junction and the B5358 Station Road.

Eye-witness Varun Jairath, 36, spotted the flames at 6am. Mr Jairath, a pharmacist who lives on Manchester Road opposite the garden centre, said the flames were up to 35ft high and the fire service did an absolutely brilliant job in preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby homes.

He said: "It was raging and there were half a dozen engines on the scene.

"They were battling to get it under control.

"There was a massive cordon and thankfully the wind was blowing the flames away from the homes.

"They were getting back-up by the minute and by 7.30am there were up to 150 officers fighting the blaze.

"The firefighters did an absolutely brilliant job to keep it under control and it did not take them long to allay any fears of the homeowners."

Around 8am the incident began to be scaled down with the number of engines reduced to eight.

Crews worked closely with the Environment Agency to limit water running off the site.

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Guten Tag, Manchester (29/06/2011 at 08:44)

My local garden centre. Where will I get me crawling ivy now??

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups., the south side of the city (29/06/2011 at 10:27)

A local dancing school perhaps>?

thoughtful, East of Manchester (29/06/2011 at 08:51)

What does a garden centre sell that can burn like that? Plants don't catch nor does compost, and most garden furniture is metal or hardwood. Some chemicals are flammable, but generally they're well packaged and not that many stocked. SO what was this garden centre selling that was so flammable?

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups., the south side of the city (29/06/2011 at 10:26)

they have a cafe and kitchen (always a dodgy area), lots of cabling and store gas cylinders. There ts in there an awful lot to catch fie and it is all tinder dry. (Tescos own a lot of these places and probably this one).

paul Annon (29/06/2011 at 11:18)

Theres LOADS that can burn in any building, shop fittings, stock, most of which is in cardboard packaging, cusions, gas, you name it and it will burn! This centre is a Strikes garden centre not a Dobbies (owned by Tesco.)

Peter Guest (29/06/2011 at 09:43)

Oh no, This is where my daughter thinks father christmas lives as we see him here every year.. It was also full of animals (fish, birds and rabbits) I hope the fire fighters managed to get some of them out

Sharon Taylor (29/06/2011 at 11:08)

For those asking the question what did the garden centre sell for it to be so flammable? A few factors may of contributed.. Apperently the fire started in the coffee shop due to a fault so if thats the case initially it involved a kitchen! Add to that the fact they sold alot of paper products like greeting cards, books and arty crafty stuff, these were situated right next to the coffee shop! Then as I understand it the fire had already taken hold due to the fact no one realised it was happening !! Shall miss it spent many a happy time with my children in there!!

Sharon Taylor (29/06/2011 at 11:11)

For those wondering what the garden centre sold in order for the fire to be so devestating .. Apparently it was a fault in the coffee shop, if this is the case, we know kitchen fires can be very bad !! Also they sold lots of paper products like greeting cards, books arts and craft materials and these were right next to the coffee shop. Plus the fact that the fire was able to take a hold before anyone realised it was happening all contributes to the massive devastation!

Gill Boardman (29/06/2011 at 11:59)

I'm really upset for Paul & Doug who own the Pets and Aquatic shop within the garden centre. The poor fish and animals who would have all been in there wouldn't have stood a chance :(

MooMoo BooBoo (29/06/2011 at 12:03)

Sad :(

Jiggerz, Mancunia (29/06/2011 at 12:03)

You mean Handforth Garden Centre?

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 14:07)

The Garden Center at 145 Manchester Road just near the blue bell garage

Amy Doyle (30/06/2011 at 09:06)

No wilmslow garden centre

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 13:42)

Cheshie Spas and Swimming pools the Hot Tub concession along with Rainbow the children's play equipment and the solar panels concession was untouched - although access is a problem at the moment, until this is sorted out by the garden center management.

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 13:42)

Cheshire spas and swimming pools - The swimming pool and Hot Tub concession along with The Rainbow Play equipment and solar panel concession was untouched however we are waiting to see what access will be allowed by the Garden Center Management

Lord Flasheart (29/06/2011 at 16:15)

Why don't you tell people about Cheshire spas and swimming pools?

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 13:46)

Cheshire Spas & Swimming pools - The hot tubs and swimming pools concession along with Rainbow were untouched but access has to be sorted out.

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 13:46)

Cheshire spas and swimming pools the Hot Tub and swimming pool concession along with Rainbow and Sola was untouched. However access may be a problem for a few days ??

Lord Flasheart (29/06/2011 at 16:15)

Please say something about the Cheshire spas and swimming pools.

Lord Flasheart (29/06/2011 at 16:15)

Why can't you tell us about the Cheshire spas and swimming pools?

Is It Me,or Wot (29/06/2011 at 16:49)

Does anyone know about Cheshire Spas and Swimming pools?

Anyhow,I reckon it was the Red Hot Pokers wot caused the fire!

Glasgow 2014 (29/06/2011 at 17:12)

Such a shame for the people who worked there. They have probably lost thier jobs due to the fire.

sue Jenkins (29/06/2011 at 20:18)

No they havn't I think they are going to the other Garden Centres......

Knowsleyman, Paphos (29/06/2011 at 22:04)

You can not just sack people becaause the place has burned down. The law protects the employees and they may well be required to help clean up and get the place up and running ASAP. The insurers will pick up the staff wages under the consequential loss section of the policy.

J/\KE Porritt (29/06/2011 at 22:22)

Apparently all the staff are being relocated to other Klondyke centres across Manchester.

View all 4 replies

Little J (29/06/2011 at 17:40)

Firstly nobody knows how the fire started and so your just speculating as to what has happened; secondly there are so many things that can help increase the velocity of a fire in a garden centre and if you think that they only sell plants - then your going to one thats pretty rubbish. As well as the plants there were cards, books, giftware, logs, coal, bbqs, craft shop, chemicals, fertilizers all sorts of things that can go up. As a member of 'STRIKES/KLONDYKE' NOT TESCO!! staff I will miss working with everybody there and hope we will all be back together soon :-)

Little J (29/06/2011 at 17:53)

Firstly I would like to say that nobody knows what caused the fire so what you are saying about the coffee shop etc is nothing more than speculation; and secondly if you think that garden centres sell nothing more than plants then you must be going to some rubbish centres - they have all sorts that can increase the velocity of a fire, wilmslow had books, cards, giftware, craft shop, logs, coal, bbqs, chemicals, home fragrance lamps, wood furniture and the list goes on.... And as a member of staff that happily works for the 'STRIKES/ KLONDYKE GROUP' - NOT TESCOS!!! i wanna say that i'm going to miss everyone and hope we will be back working with each other soon :-)

christine bATES (29/06/2011 at 18:10)

Thankfully none of the staff were there at the time. Buildings can be rebuilt lives cant. So sorry for the people who work there who now have no jobs

carol r (29/06/2011 at 18:33)

Can anyone tell me whether they managed to get any of those poor birds, fish and animals out of there and if so do you require any help caring for them at this difficult time.

Gill Boardman (29/06/2011 at 20:59)

According to a report on wilmslow.co.uk they only managed to save 50 tropical fish and 70 koi carp, and they were being tranferred to other premises. I'm absolutely gutted for Paul and Doug :(

Amy Doyle (30/06/2011 at 09:06)

I totally agree . i dont like seeing animals being killed and i wouldnt want them to be killed in this fire. i hope they got them out.

Glasgow 2014 (30/06/2011 at 18:25)

Do you think the fish got out of their tanks, and walked away? Tut.

Reddevil1976, Hamdforth (29/06/2011 at 23:58)

It was my local garden centre too. I enjoyed so many Saturday morning breakfasts there with my girlfriend and our families plus many other fun times going for a coffee and a lovely cake. To see the events unfolding on my doorstep this morning was truly heartbreaking. I can't bear to think of how the animals must have suffered. As a local person I will say we have all lost a truly remarkable and fantastic place where the staff always made you feel welcome and wanted and always made sure they could answer any question asked of them. I was pleased to hear that Klondyke have plans to re-build and re-open it before Christmas. If we locals can offer any help or support please feel free to ask.

Mark White (30/06/2011 at 01:50)

Such a shame for everybody affected by this horrible accident, Especially the pet and aquatic shop.
I hope that Paul & Doug will be able to get the store up and running again, they are such nice and helpful guys and helped me get started in fish keeping.

My thoughts go out to all of you and hope everything gets sorted quickly

Raymond Wallace (30/06/2011 at 11:47)

Just hope all the animals were able to survive.

CLAIRE HAWORTH (30/06/2011 at 13:42)

Have felt REALLY saddened since I heard this terrible news. Used to go there such a lot with my children, ALWAYS visiting the animals too. Have been going since it was built, as have lived in Wilmslow all my life. VERY VERY sad for the loss of "animal life" and all the jobs of the people I knew well. Condolences to all - hope they can re-build as soon as possible. Thoughts are with everyone affected by this.

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