Plas Madoc Leisure Centre Suffers Fire

Three fire crews and police responded to an incident at the community run Plas Madoc leisure centre this evening.

Update 10:30pm The Fire Service have told us the cause of the fire is still unknown and an investigation will begin. Three crews attended using two breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera and 2 PPV fans. Although the fire is out one pump remained at Plas Madoc.

Update 10:16pm: Splash Magic have issued a statement saying: “We can confirm that there has been a fire at the Splash Magic Leisure Centre this evening. We are currently working with the Fire Service and Police to establish the cause. Thankfully the damage was mostly external and was contained to one area of the building.

“Therefore the Pool, Gym and Cafe will be open tomorrow as usual. Sportshall bookings and fitness classes may be affected, so please call the Centre on 01978 821600 to check tomorrow. Thank you everyone for all your messages of support and we hope to see you all in the Centre again very soon!”

One resident has also been in touch to say they saw a group of youths ‘lighting bins on fire in the area adjacent to Plas Madoc leisure centre’ around an hour before the fire service were called to the fire at the leisure centre itself. Police apparently are aware of this information.

UPDATE 10pm: Some positive news – thankfully no injuries reported – and the local community is responding, with volunteers staff and Splash Magic board members on the site this evening helping deal with the aftermath.

One has said online tonight that a part of the centre is believed to have smoke damage inside, with the exterior suffering the main fire damage.

We will have a fire service update shortly.

Original information below…

Natalie from Plas Madoc has told us: “I could smell a strong fire smell straight away. It’s the stage area that is on fire looking at where the flames are coming from.

“I can’t believe it to be honest, I’m sure that stage has been there since it was built 35 years ago and so many local people will have memories of shows and discos there.”

Police and the fire service have attended the incident after being called at 8:09pm .

As of 9pm three crews are still in attendance, two from Wrexham and one from Johnstown.

Imogen, who sent us the above picture from the scene, described it as “vile after everything the community has done”.

Splash Magic, formally known as Plas Madoc Leisure Centre is Trust run by the local community. The Splash Community Trust was launched after Wrexham Council controversially closed Plas Madoc and faced a huge public backlash. The facility in Acrefair was closed by Wrexham Council little over a year ago and was reportedly running at a £400,000-a-year loss under local authority ownership, but has been turned around into a vibrant facility.