COUNCILLORS from the Bradford ward where the massive fire took place yesterday have spoken out about the 'upsetting' and 'distressing' scenes witnessed.

Several businesses are counting the cost today after a colossal blaze broke out in a three-storey building in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A total of 18 fire engines and four aerial appliances from across West Yorkshire initially attended the scene at 2.45am alongside police, ambulance, Bradford Council’s Emergency Planning team (BCEP) and Yorkshire Water.

The incident occurred just off Legrams Lane, down Summerville Road in BD7, and caused 20 to 30 flat evacuations and mass disruption to several sectors throughout the day.

A school and roads were shut as people living in the Shearbridge area were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to large plumes of smoke.

It is believed the main units damaged by the fire were those closest to Woodhead Road; Worldwide Foodstores, Bentley Beds, White Rose Fabrics, White Rose Upholstery and Oman’s Furniture.

City Ward councillors Aneela Ahmed, Shakeela Lal and Nazam Azam produced this joint statement: “The incident has been very upsetting and distressing for the local community.

“We are very thankful there has been no loss of life or injury. A small number of residents had to be evacuated and were moved away from the site of the incident to other locations.

"We would like to thank WYFRS, WTP, Yorkshire Ambulance and the BMDC emergency management team. Working together we will continue to ensure that this area is made safe.”

By the afternoon, the fire was no longer being treated as a major incident and was under control, although six fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were still there at 3.30pm.

At 4pm, a spokesman from West Yorkshire Police said: “Police are assisting with scene management. At this time, the cause of the fire has not been established.”

Local resident, Raja Irshad and his cousin added: “It sounded like there were things popping inside, loud bangs. It was quite a wild one.

“There were not many people out, until half 3 then everybody started rushing there. It was a bit of a scene, it felt like an outdoor cinema.”

A police cordon remained at the location for the duration of yesterday.

Co-op Academy Princeville were forced to shut for the day after staff were unable to access the school site.

Meanwhile, Legrams Lane, Sheabridge Road at junction with Legrams lane, Longside Lane at junction with Woodhead Road and Summerville Road, all had to be closed, and First buses 636 and 637 were diverted.

Fire engines from all the following stations were there: Bradford, Fairweather Green, Shipley, Odsal, Cleckheaton, Bingley, Stanningley, Keighley, Rawdon, Rastrick, Dewsbury, Hunslet, Killingbeck, Moortown, Garforth.

Also in attendance were the Command Unit and support from Featherstone, the hose laying unit from Mirfield and aerial appliances from Halifax, Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford.

Incident Commander of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), Chris Lawton said: “The fire started in a 100x20m three-storey building which was attached to two five-storey mills.

“Firefighters worked extremely hard overnight and throughout the day to contain the fire to the original building and stop it from becoming more serious.

“The fire caused significant disruption to local roads and there was power supply disruption.

“There was a significant smoke bloom, so we asked residents nearby to keep their doors and windows closed.

“Fire fighters have worked hard to stop this fire spreading to adjacent mill buildings, and a five-storey building containing both domestic properties and commercial businesses.”

Northern Powergrid engineers safely isolated supplies to the building, as part of the firefighting operations, resulting in a power cut for 550 customers in the area.

Four hundred customers were restored within 25 mins and a further 130 at around 9am. By 10.40am, all power to domestic properties was back on.