A major fire broke out at Thurmaston Shopping Centre in Leicestershire early on Saturday, June 20, 2026, causing the roof of a store to collapse and prompting a large emergency response. Fire crews worked to bring the blaze under control, and residents in the area were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke. No serious injuries have been reported so far as investigations into the fire continue.

Early Morning Blaze and Emergency Response

A significant fire erupted at Thurmaston Shopping Centre off Barkby Thorpe Lane in Leicestershire in the early hours of Saturday, June 20. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service received multiple calls about a large blaze affecting several units at the retail park shortly after 6 am.

Fire crews responded rapidly, with eight fire engines, two aerial ladder appliances and more than 40 firefighters attending the scene to tackle the flames and prevent further spread.

Roof Collapse at Key Store

The intense heat and scale of the fire caused the roof of the Mountain Warehouse store at the shopping centre to collapse, significantly damaging the building and drawing attention from nearby residents.

Smoke plumes from the blaze were visible across a wide area, leading authorities to advise residents to keep windows and doors shut as a precaution against smoke inhalation.

Fire Contained, Crews Working to Extinguish

Firefighters worked through the morning to fully control and extinguish the blaze. Although the main fire is now under control, some smoke remained visible as crews continued to remove tiles and check hotspots.

By mid‑morning, multiple fire crews were beginning to leave the scene, but a number of fire engines and at least one aerial ladder remained in use as officers ensured the fire was completely out and the area safe.

The road around the centre, including Barkby Thorpe Lane, was initially closed but has since reopened to traffic as emergency operations scaled down.

Impact on Shopping Centre and Local Businesses

Some parts of Thurmaston Shopping Centre are expected to remain closed throughout the day as damage is assessed and safety checks are carried out. Managers from several shops were spoken to by fire officers inside the cordon early in the morning before being moved out for safety.

Stores such as Greggs, Mountain Warehouse and M&S were confirmed to remain closed following the fire, while other outlets such as PureGym, Superdrug, Boots and Sports Direct are planned to reopen once safety checks are completed.

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Local Reaction

Residents living near the shopping centre described their shock at seeing smoke and flames so early in the morning. One local, Jordan Slack, 29, said he saw pictures of the blaze around 5 am and initially feared the entire centre would be consumed. Thankfully, he added, “the fire was stopped before it grew further,” though the scale of the incident was still “shocking” for the community.