Distraught residents 'helpless' over mill fire

Distraught residents say they have been left feeling "helpless" after a former mill near their homes caught fire for a third time this year.

The huge blaze at Dalton Mills, Keighley, started at about 20:00 BST on Saturday and 12 fire engines were on the scene at its peak.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was forced to evacuate a number of nearby properties due to smoke, embers and debris.

Resident Teresa Taylor said: "We've had no sleep, we're all at our wits' end."

Bradford Council emergency planning officers were also at the scene to provide "support and guidance" to those affected by the evacuation.

The incident continued into Sunday and at 08:00 the fire service confirmed the blaze was "under control".

"It was horrific," Taylor added.

"Neighbours around here were absolutely brilliant and we all rallied together last night and we've just tried to do our best.

"We were crying, we were upset, we were distraught, there was just nothing we could do. We felt helpless."

Residents spoke of elderly and ill people being forced to evacuate their homes, leaving behind their possessions and memories.

On Sunday, they worked together to sweep the streets.

"We're all now trying to clean up after what some inconsiderate person's done," Taylor said.

It is the third fire this year at the Grade II listed Victorian building, which was used as a filming location for period dramas Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.

Crews were also called to a blaze there in July 2025 and there was a major fire that destroyed a large part of the former textile mill in 2022.

Officers previously confirmed most of the fires were believed to be deliberate and two teenagers were convicted of arson in relation to the 2022 incident.

Nicole Orr, who lives on the street, said: "We've had so many fires, each one worse. This one, it puts you on edge.

"You don't know if you're safe or expecting to be evacuated every single time. You don't know what to do.

"There's young kids down here, everyone's got pets down here. What do you do in the middle of the night?"

Orr said there was one way in and one way out of the street, leaving neighbours feeling trapped.

"Once that gets blocked off, people can't come in. Husbands, wives, they come in from work, they can't get in," she added.

"They have to beg to be able to come down and see their loved ones."

Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, said the fire was "extremely concerning".

He told the BBC: "Last night was deeply worrying for many of the residents living in close proximity to Dalton Mills.

"The site has not been secured and, unfortunately, we have now had another, the fifth big fire, which has been causing huge levels of concern for many residents.

"Bradford Council, as the local authority, must secure the site. They have statutory powers to do that."

The Victorian Society, the national amenity society for Victorian and Edwardian buildings and structures, said in a statement: "Our thoughts are with everyone in Keighley regarding the fifth fire at Dalton Mill in so many years, which impacts the town and is such a rich part of its heritage."

The site is ownerless after the Crown Estate took possession of it under an ancient property law called escheat.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.