Massive Fire Destroys Irvine Celtic Club And Shuts Mall

Late on Monday night, February 2, 2026, a massive fire ripped through the former Forum shopping centre on West Road in Irvine, Ayrshire, sending shockwaves through the local community and forcing the closure of the adjoining Rivergate Shopping Centre. The blaze, which broke out around 11:30pm, quickly engulfed the largely disused building that houses the Irvine No1 Celtic Supporters Club, a venue that has long served as a gathering place for Celtic football fans in the region.

According to the Daily Record, the alarm was first raised at 11:34pm, prompting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to dispatch two fire appliances to the scene. As the scale of the incident became clear, the response was rapidly escalated, with six appliances and two high-reach vehicles battling the flames at the height of the emergency. By 8am the following morning, the situation had been brought under greater control, allowing the fire service to scale back their presence to three appliances and maintain a watching brief as smouldering hotspots continued to be doused.

Drone footage and dramatic images shared by local media outlets, including The Sun and Ayrshire Daily News, revealed the ferocity of the fire. Flames could be seen tearing through the roof of the supporters club, which appeared to have partially collapsed under the intense heat. Thick plumes of smoke billowed into the night sky, shrouding the surrounding area and raising immediate concerns about the safety of the adjacent Rivergate Shopping Centre—a key retail and commuter hub for Irvine residents.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as emergency vehicles with blue lights lined the street, and fire crews fought to prevent the blaze from spreading further. One local resident told the Daily Record, "Some people were worried it was a gas explosion but were reassured it was ok. We debated whether it was deliberate, too. We were more worried on how they were going to get in and control fire or the big mall would be affected." The sense of anxiety was palpable, with many locals taking to social media to share their fears and seek updates on whether the fire had reached the mall itself.

The Rivergate Shopping Centre, which is physically attached to The Forum building, took the precaution of closing all internal stores on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in response to the incident. In a statement posted on Facebook and shared with local outlets like the Irvine Times, management announced: "There is currently no access through the Rivergate & all stores will remain closed at the moment. With the exception of the Asda and outside Greggs unit who will be able to open as normal. If you usually walk through the centre to reach the train station or nearby offices, please find an alternative route this morning. Emergency services are on-site and the centre will reopen when it is safe to do so. We thank you for your patience and cooperation. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information regarding reopening."

The closure of the shopping centre had immediate consequences for both local businesses and commuters. The Rivergate Centre is a vital thoroughfare for those heading to the train station or nearby offices, and its sudden shutdown forced many to find alternative routes. Social media users commented on the disruption, with one noting, "Mall will be shut for a while now, if fire has collapsed into the Celtic club and spread upwards to the shopping centre the foundations that hold it up are gone. The green bridge down the low green will be very busy now."

Despite the scale of the fire, authorities confirmed that there were no casualties. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told reporters, "We received the first call at 23:34 last night which came in as a building fire at the Celtic supporters club. We mobilised two appliances which was increased to six appliances and two high reach appliances. We have since scaled back to three appliances and a watching brief has been taking place since 8am. No casualties have been reported."

Police Scotland was called to the scene at around 11:50pm, and a formal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the blaze. A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated, "Around 11.50pm on Tuesday, 2 February, 2026, we received a report of a fire at a premises on West Road, Irvine. Emergency services remain in attendance and enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause." As of Tuesday afternoon, emergency crews remained on site, working to ensure the area was safe and to prevent any potential flare-ups.

The fire's impact extends beyond the immediate damage to property and disruption of daily routines. The Irvine No1 Celtic Supporters Club had been due to host a number of high-profile events in the coming weeks, including 'A Night With Broony' featuring former Celtic captain Scott Brown on March 20, 2026, and a St Paddy's Night with live music scheduled for March 13, 2026. With the club's premises severely damaged, the future of these events is now uncertain. Organizers have yet to confirm whether the gatherings will be relocated or postponed, leaving both members and non-members in limbo.

The Forum building itself has been largely disused since 2016, but its role as a home for the supporters club gave it continued relevance in the community. The fire has reignited conversations about the safety of vacant or underutilized properties and their potential risks, especially when attached to busy commercial centres.

Local businesses and residents are now waiting anxiously for further updates on the reopening of the Rivergate Shopping Centre. The management has pledged to keep the public informed and to reopen all facilities as soon as it is deemed safe by emergency services. In the meantime, only the Asda supermarket and the external Greggs bakery unit have been allowed to operate, providing a small measure of continuity for shoppers and workers alike.

The incident has also highlighted the professionalism and rapid response of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, whose efforts prevented the fire from causing even greater devastation. Their coordinated action, supported by Police Scotland and other emergency personnel, ensured that—despite the dramatic scenes and significant property damage—no lives were lost and the wider community was kept safe.

As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the people of Irvine are left to reflect on a night that brought both fear and relief: fear for what might have been, and relief that, in the end, the swift action of emergency services kept the worst from happening.