South Cheshire Farm Blaze Highlights Fire Safety Risks to Businesses
– 2 min read
Crewe-based Safe 365 UK is urging businesses across the region to ensure their fire risk assessments are in order following last month's major incident at Checkley Lane
A fire safety consultancy based in Crewe is calling on businesses across Cheshire and the North West to review their fire risk arrangements, following a major blaze at a chicken farm near Bridgemere on 29 May 2026. The fire at The Grange, Checkley Lane, reported by the BBC, drew around 50 firefighters and ten fire engines from across Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire, with crews on site for more than 24 hours. A joint investigation by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Police into the cause remains ongoing.
The incident, just seven miles from Crewe, produced a smoke plume visible across South Cheshire and left residents in the surrounding area unable to open their windows for much of the day. No injuries were reported, but the scale of the response was significant. Richard Pickles, Director of Safe 365 UK, said: "An incident like this brings fire safety sharply into focus. A fire does not need to result in casualties to cause serious damage. It can put a business out of action for weeks and destroy years of investment in a matter of hours. Every business owner in this region should be asking whether their fire risk assessment is up to date and whether the actions from it have actually been completed."
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all non-domestic premises must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action and prosecution. For agricultural and commercial businesses, the risks are often underestimated. Large structures, stored materials, fuel sources, and electrical equipment all contribute to a fire load that can develop rapidly and prove difficult to contain.
Safe 365 UK provides professional fire risk assessments to businesses across Crewe, Cheshire, and the wider North West. Its assessors hold Tier 2 Competent Fire Risk Assessor (CFRAR) accreditation and are members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. Safe 365 UK is listed on the National Fire Risk Assessors register. Pickles added: "The fire at Checkley Lane should be the prompt for businesses across this area to get their assessment done. Our job is to make that process straightforward and proportionate. We are not here to add bureaucracy. We are here to reduce risk."
To book a fire risk assessment in Cheshire, please visit the Safe 365 UK website by clicking here.
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