A public inquest has concluded that multiple serious fire safety failings contributed to the deaths of two men in a fatal club fire at a working men’s club in Lancashire, exposing critical lessons for owners and managers of licensed and community premises across the UK.
The inquest into the deaths of John McCartney, 60, and Philip “Tony” Townsend, 70, found that locked exits, inadequate evacuation measures, and unsafe heating arrangements all played a role in the tragedy at Gordon Working Men’s Club in Morecambe in October 2019.
Both men died from smoke inhalation following a blaze that broke out after a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canister exploded, filling the premises with smoke and blocking escape routes.
What the inquest found
At the jury inquest held at Preston Coroner’s Court, senior coroner Christopher Long concluded that the fire safety failures at the club “all contributed” to the deaths of the two men.
The court heard that the club’s operators — Heather Goffin and her son Callum Goffin — had previously pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of fire safety legislation.
They were convicted in January 2023 after failing to properly assess and control risks associated with a fan heater connected to an LPG canister, and for failing to ensure occupants could evacuate the building safely in an emergency.
How the fire started
Evidence presented to the inquest described how the fire began when a gas canister used to power a heater ignited and exploded. Witnesses told the court that Mr McCartney had been seen flicking a lighter near the heater and gas canister, a behaviour others said he regularly repeated.
On the night of the fire, witnesses described Mr McCartney attempting to adjust the valve on the gas canister “in a state of panic” after it caught fire. CCTV footage shown to the jury captured the moment the canister exploded, rapidly filling the room with smoke.
The inquest heard that the fire service was alerted and arrived around 10 minutes later, but by that point conditions inside the building had become unsurvivable.
Locked exits and failed evacuation
One of the most critical findings related to blocked and locked escape routes. The fire spread near the club’s main entrance, forcing occupants to flee towards an emergency exit in the snooker room.
This exit led to a narrow alleyway, which should have provided a clear escape route to the outside. However, witnesses told the inquest that a security door at the end of the alleyway was locked, preventing people from escaping.
Those who survived were eventually forced to find an alternative escape route through the kitchen, losing vital time in smoke-filled conditions.
Fire crews later found Mr Townsend collapsed between the two exit doors. He could not be resuscitated. Mr McCartney was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where he was later pronounced dead.
Previous warnings ignored
Perhaps most concerning, the inquest heard that Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had previously raised concerns about the very same type of heater and LPG canister during an inspection in 2016, three years before the fatal fire.
Inspectors at the time reported that the heater and gas canister were inappropriate for use in the premises. Despite this, the equipment remained in use.
When questioned, Ms Goffin reportedly told inspectors that the heater was being used on an “interim” basis. However, the inquest heard that the same heating system was still present when the fatal fire occurred years later.
In response, the coroner has given Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service 28 days to formally respond to concerns about why the heating system was still in use and how enforcement actions were followed up.
Legal responsibility and wider implications
The case highlights the severe consequences of failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places clear duties on those responsible for premises open to the public.
Under the legislation, responsible persons must:
- Identify and assess fire risks
- Eliminate or reduce risks where possible
- Maintain safe escape routes
- Ensure fire safety measures are effective and reviewed
Nationally, fire authorities attend hundreds of fires each year in non-domestic buildings, with enforcement action frequently linked to blocked exits, inadequate risk assessments, and unsafe heating or electrical equipment.
Locked or obstructed fire exits remain one of the most common and dangerous breaches identified by fire inspectors, as they can instantly turn a survivable incident into a fatal one.
Lessons for clubs, venues and community buildings
This case serves as a stark reminder for clubs, bars, social venues, and community buildings that fire safety failures are rarely caused by a single issue.
Instead, they often result from a chain of small but critical oversights, including:
- Unsafe temporary heating solutions
- Failure to act on previous inspection findings
- Poor evacuation planning
- Locked or obstructed exits
Fire safety experts consistently warn that “temporary” arrangements often become permanent, increasing risk over time if not properly reviewed.
Official source
The original report was published by BBC News and can be read here:
🔗 Safety failings behind fatal club fire, inquest finds – BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddrj517dljo
A preventable tragedy
As the inquest made clear, this was not an unavoidable accident. The deaths of John McCartney and Philip Townsend occurred in a setting where known risks were not adequately controlled, despite prior warnings.
This fatal club fire highlights the critical role that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment plays in protecting life within public and community buildings. A properly carried out assessment would have identified the dangers associated with the use of LPG heaters, the condition and management of escape routes, and the risks created by locked or obstructed exits.
Fire risk assessments are not a one-off exercise. They must be regularly reviewed, particularly where heating arrangements change, building layouts are altered, or previous enforcement concerns have been raised. In this case, earlier warnings about unsafe heating equipment were not effectively acted upon, allowing known risks to persist for years.
For clubs, social venues, and community premises, this case serves as a stark reminder that fire risk assessments are a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, not a paperwork exercise. When findings are ignored or controls are allowed to lapse, the consequences can be catastrophic. The deaths resulting from this fatal club fire underline the importance of taking fire risk assessment findings seriously and acting on them without delay.
