A litter of tiny kittens is being nurtured by crews at Bradford fire station after they were bravely rescued from a burning warehouse.

The four felines were curled up beneath a layer of smoke on the first floor of an empty building in Burnett Street, Little Germany, Bradford. They were plucked from the blaze, which broke out at 8pm on Wednesday, by firefighters Josie Walsh and Steve Ridge.

Watch commander Alan Jordan, who was on duty when the foursome were saved, said: “They were really scared and had been abandoned by their mother.

“We’ve been feeding them milk and everyone at the station has been doing their bit to look after them. We’ve tried naming one of them ‘Smokey’ but it’s not really stuck!”

Firefighters at the station volunteered to provide new homes for the kittens, thought to be only a few weeks old, within hours of their rescue.

Firefighter John Killen, who is to adopt one of the cats, said: “My little daughter loves cats. I thought it might be a nice little present for her. I think they’re lovely.”

Crew commander Dave Burland, who was helping care for the kittens yesterday, said: “It’s not the first time we have rescued kittens.

“Two months ago we rescued two trapped underground. It makes the job a bit lighter and it’s very rewarding. It’s unusual these four have all got homes to go to.”

Figures from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service show that firefighters have made at least 90 animal rescues in Bradford since October, 2009.

Police are now investigating Wednesday’s blaze, which is being treated as arson.