Firefighters from across the district were last night scrambled to a blaze at a derelict mill, which was believed to have been started by arsonists.

Crews were called to the derelict mill, in Dubb Lane, off Ferncliffe Road, Bingley, at about 7pm last night following several calls from nearby residents and businesses.

The fire was believed to have started on the ground floor, but soon spread to cover all three storeys in one of two buildings at the site.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman later said an eight-year-old boy and another boy had been arrested in connection with the fire.

Incident commander Steve Richings, of Bradford fire station, said crews were able to stop the fire spreading to any other buildings. He said: “We had numerous calls in – our control mobilised three appliances because there were so many calls.

“It’s all derelict. The fire has been in the left-hand building. The crews have got in and managed to stop it spreading to the larger building on the right.

“So the crews have attacked the fire from both sides – the primary target was to tackle the fire in the building and stop it spreading any further.”

Crews from Bingley, Fairweather Green, Keighley, Shipley and Bradford attended the scene.

Mr Richings said the fire was believed to have been started deliberately.

Vakas Khalid, owner of Bingley Private Hire, opposite the mill, said he phoned the fire service after one of his drivers parked nearby and saw the fire.

He said: “All we could see was the building on fire. You could see the flames, they were quite high when it first started. “It’s happened a few times, the building has been on fire.”

Police were called to the scene at about 7.26pm. A spokesman said an eight-year-old boy had been arrested in connection with the incident and another boy. The spokesman said inquiries were ongoing.

  • Read the full story Tuesday’s T&A