A fire in the early hours of Friday morning has destroyed two outbuildings at the Leekes department store in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf – but thanks to the swift response from emergency services, the main store has been saved and is expected to reopen later today (April 4 2025).
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the scene, near Talbot Green, at around 2:31am BST. More than 60 firefighters and multiple appliances from across the region were deployed, including an aerial ladder platform, three water bowsers, and an incident command unit. The blaze was brought under control by approximately 5:00am.
The affected area, measuring around 150 by 120 metres, included two ancillary warehouse buildings located at the rear of the store. Group Store Operations Director Peter Martin confirmed the buildings were “completely destroyed”, but reassured customers that the main store was “unaffected” and would be “back open and trading this afternoon”.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Mr Martin praised the fire crews for their rapid and effective response. “They did an incredible job making sure they got into our building to ensure the fire didn’t spread,” he said. “We’re very, very grateful for what they achieved.”
While damage to stock has been described as minimal, Leekes confirmed that a small number of customer orders were destroyed in the fire. Staff are currently contacting those affected directly.
Support for the fire crews was provided by South Wales Police, National Grid, Wales & West Utilities and the Salvation Army. A joint investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched by the fire service and police.
In a statement released this morning, Leekes said: “Last night our Llantrisant store was affected by a fire in one of the outbuildings behind the store. Thanks to the work of the excellent South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the fire was brought under control quickly before it spread to the main store. We have some work to do in certain areas of the store to clear water but anticipate that we will be ready to reopen by midday today.”
The Llantrisant store is the flagship of the family-run Leekes group, which began trading in the area in the 1970s and has since expanded to locations including Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire and Melksham in Wiltshire. The company also operates the Vale Resort hotel and spa in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Despite the dramatic events of the morning, Leekes’ quick action and resilience mean it’s business as usual – a testament to the efforts of emergency responders and the company’s dedicated staff.
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