A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at the former Jumpin' Jak's nightclub in Wigan has been released on bail, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.
The fire broke out at the building on King Street at around 3.10am on Monday, August 24. Police cordoned off a stretch of the street in the town centre as firefighters worked to tackle the blaze.
Arrest and bail
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said in an update on Tuesday that the man has been released on bail as enquiries continue.
The fire occurred in the same building where a huge blaze happened in November last year. Residents told of their shock at the second fire and described how sad it had been to see the decline of King Street from its heyday.
Resident reaction
Mr McNulty, who works in the area and lives within walking distance of the club, said: "It's scary. I walked past it last year and the whole building was all ablaze so it's quite scary that it's happened again.
"When it happened last year, someone said that it was on the top floor and that the roof had caved in. People were saying it was an issue with the electrics and that it was an electrical fire or that someone had dropped a cigarette.
"But it's strange that it's happened twice; last year and this year. It's good that they've caught someone for it this time, any way.
"I don't really go down that way but Jumpin' Jak's has been open for years. Not many people use King Street now to walk through, it's just for nights out."
Other fires in Wigan
This came after another venue in the town centre caught fire earlier this month just a few streets away from Jumpin' Jak's. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following the fire at the John Bull Chophouse.
A man who works in a bar next to Chophouse said: "It's annoying that multiple fires have broken out here. It's not as if it's just one accidental fire.
"There's been the two fires at Jumpin' Jak's now and the one at Thwaites the other week. It's scary, to be honest, working here and thinking that there's so many fires happening so close by.
"I'm quite concerned that there's been so many fires in Wigan, and that they're all pubs as well that have been set on fire."
A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said on Monday: "Just after 3am this morning (Monday 24 August), three fire engines from Bolton Central and Atherton fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an old nightclub on King Street, Wigan.
"Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used breaking in gear, two hose reel jets, and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around five hours. Crews remain at the scene, checking for hot spots."
