Safety failings behind fatal club fire, inquest finds

The inquest heard the fire began when a canister exploded

A locked security door and failings in evacuation measures and heating system checks all contributed to the deaths of two men in a fatal club fire, an inquest has found.

John McCartney, 60, and Philip "Tony" Townsend, 70, died from smoke inhalation from the blaze in Gordon Working Men's Club in Morecambe in October 2019.

The mother and son who ran the club, Heather Goffin and Callum Goffin were convicted after pleading guilty to breaching a number of fire safety measures in January 2023.

At the jury inquest at Preston Coroner's Court, senior coroner Christopher Long said fire safety failings at the club all contributed to the men's deaths.

The inquest heard how multiple people saw Mr McCartney flicking a lighter near the club's gas heater and liquefied petroleum gas canister.

Mr Long said others in the club at the time said Mr McCartney played with the lighter regularly, often tapping it against the metal canister.

The court heard how on this occasion the canister caught fire, and the 60-year-old was seen by those in the club to be adjusting the valve on the canister "in a state of panic".

CCTV shown to the court showed the canister exploding, and smoke filling the room.

Mr and Ms Goffin were convicted in 2023 for fire safety breaches after failing to identify and control the risks associated with a fan heater using LPG, and being unable to evacuate the building safely.

The blaze broke out at Gordon Working Men's Club in Morecambe in 2019

The fire spread near the main entrance to the club, so those inside fled towards an emergency exit in the snooker room, the inquest heard.

This led out towards a narrow alleyway, where there was another door to exit the premises.

But witnesses said the door out of the alleyway did not open, and those who managed to escape did so via an alternative exit through the kitchen.

Jurors were told how fire crews arrived approximately 10 minutes later.

Mr Townsend was found by the crew between the two doors of the fire exit, and was unable to be resuscitated, the inquest heard.

Mr McCartney was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where he was pronounced dead.

An external security door was locked which stopped the safe evacuation of the building, the inquest heard

The inquest heard how a fire service inspection three years previously in 2016 reported the heater and canisters inappropriate for use in the premises.

They noticed a heater and gas canister of the same type that caused the fatal fire.

When the owners were confronted about the heater, Mr Long told the inquest that Ms Goffin claimed it was only in use on an "interim" basis.

Mr Long has given Lancashire Fire and Rescue 28 days to respond to concerns that the same type of heating system caused the fire three years later.