Arsonists blamed as blaze destroys Keighley business (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Arsonists blamed as blaze destroys Keighley business

7:00am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News

A huge blaze gutted one company's premises and spread to the next-door business.

The fire at a washing machine repair centre in Beck Street, off South Street, Keighley, was tackled by crews from 10 fire appliances.

There were unconfirmed reports the blaze started when someone set light to cardboard stacked at the side of garages.

There were initial fears of an explosion on one side of the former mill building after a forklift truck containing gas containers was seen inside.

Smoke spread to an adjoining building in Heber Street, home to Rymer Engineering, and South Street had to be closed to traffic.

Firefighters from Keighley, Bingley, Haworth, Silsden and Bradford were initially called to the scene at about 3.45am yesterday. The number of engines was stepped up to ten just after 7am as crews using hose reels tried to limit the spread of the fire. Seven engines remained on-site yesterday lunchtime.

Traffic jams built up during the morning rush hour as police diverted traffic up Oakworth Road, where roadworks were already causing delays, and along Worth Way.

The blaze destroyed the single-storey washing machine repair centre, which is in a 129-year-old building formerly used by engineering giant Hattersley’s.

The fire is understood to have started in the adjoining yard, where cardboard had been piled. The cause is still unknown, but firemen believe it is arson. Investigators are hoping to gain access to the building today.

The building, home to Sign & Design until several years ago, is at the junction with Heber Street, on the opposite side of South Street from Shimla Spice.

Speaking at the scene of the fire, Paul Craven, who runs the washing machine centre, said the blaze had also affected three garages behind his premises.

He said: “The fire started in the yard and spread to the building. Someone has obviously set it on fire from what we know.”

David Belgrave, a long-time employee of Rymer Engineering, said he had been told someone had set light to cardboard stacked at the side of the garages.

Rymer Engineering, which employs about five people, began in Halifax more than 40 years ago and moved to Keighley about 25 years ago.