This was a seriously dreadful day in Manchester's history. However, it did indeed help to get the laws changed on foams used in furniture, as well as various fire safety laws.
It was a day I recall pretty clearly, except for one thing. I can't remember the date! I'm feel it was either May 4th, or the 9th, 1979. The reason I remember this is a simple and clear one... it was the day I passed my driving test. I'm sorry, Cheethamgirl, but I think it was a Tuesday! Why? Because in those days, driving test centre's only worked on weekdays. (I assume they still do???) Also, as I worked in a shop in the City centre then, I had to book a days' annual leave for my test. My test was taken from what was the old test centre at Strangeways and, as I left the centre with the examiner to commence the test, one of his colleagues said to him "Have you heard the news? Woollies is on fire!"
As mentioned, I passed my driving test that day and, after returning home and managing to get my feet back on the ground, I phoned my work-mates to advise them of my success. Most of the team didn't work at weekends.
Anyway, I hope this helps to stir peoples memories to that fateful day. I remember watching it on the news that evening, and later, being appalled that such a big business had been allowed to get away with such awful, archaic measures which prevented people from escaping! And they effectively got away with it! However, fortunately, some lessons were learned.