Abandoned Wigan social centre goes up in flames again

Crews from Wigan and Hindley, plus a hydraulic platform from Leigh were mobilised at 6.45am on Thursday February 24 to the ex-Summit Centre on Billinge Road, Highfield.

Film footage and photographs taken by wigantoday show the building is now all but gutted.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 06:40am on Thursday February 24, three fire engines from Wigan and Hindley stations were called to a building fire on Billinge Road, in Wigan.

“The fire involved the first floor and roof space of a derelict property. Firefighters used three jets to extinguish the fire and were in attendance for around three hours.”

Firefighters had previously spent four hours at the site on January 15 when several fires were lit inside the vacant premises by arsonists.

And at this early stage there is nothing to say that firebugs were not responsible for the latest emergency.

In the January incident, firefighters had to cut holes in the roof to let out the smoke and make sure the flames did not spread to a house nearby.

It was later decided that the blaze had caused so much damage that the buildings would ultimately have to be demolished.

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