New campaign to stop arson attacks in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

New campaign to stop arson attacks in Bradford

9:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Local By James Rush

Derelict properties across the Bradford district, judged to be most at risk from fires started by rough sleepers or metal thieves, are being fortified in an action plan led by West Yorkshire Fire Service.

The fire service’s Arson Task Force team is in the process of identifying the most vulnerable buildings, according to a report to the fire authority’s community safety committee.

And the report also reveals that a fire which destroyed one of Bradford’s oldest mills in Tetley Street, off Thornton Road, last October was started by four rough sleepers.

The fire ripped through the five storeys of Thompson Mill. Crews were able to prevent it from spreading to nearby properties but the mill, built at the turn of the 19th century, had to be demolished.

The report to be discussed by the committee next Friday, says the ATF team was leading the process of identifying empty properties in Bradford.

It says: “The ATF team has been given information as to the locations of empty properties within Bradford, which runs into thousands.

“However, after highlighting which of the properties are likely to cause most risk, and be attractive to rough sleepers, the properties are then visited by ATF officers and station personnel.

“Findings from these visits are being recorded locally and where there are particular issues of concern, contact is made with the relevant authority, such as trying to negotiate the boarding up and securing of the property.”

Ruth Cornelissen, the fire service’s assistant senior prevention manager, said the scheme was implemented after two rough sleepers died in fires in 2010.

She said: “That project looked at derelict buildings in the areas as well and, where there were instances of fire, whether there was a link with rough sleepers. It is a growing issue -- the metal theft in particularly.

“We have had instances where we have had small fires and it has been proved to be from metal theft, and there’s also an added firefighter risk when going into buildings where a fire has been started by metal theft.”

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for housing, said: “Empty properties are an obvious target for arson and we work closely with the fire service to identify those in areas where there is greater risk of arson.

“The Council uses its powers on a weekly basis to enforce securing empty homes where the owner has not taken action to do so themselves, recharging the cost to the owner. The fire service contributed to the Tackling Empty Homes in the District Delivery and Action Plan which was approved by the executive committee last month.”

Meanwhile, a fire chief has urged landlords to secure derelict buildings after a blaze gutted a disused house.

Roger Binns, watch commander at Bradford station said, people sleeping rough or youngsters had caused the accidental fire in Claremont Terrace, Little Horton. Two crews were called to the flat, which has previously been the scene of a blaze, at 1pm yesterday.