Garage building 'deemed unsafe' undergoes demolition after fire

A fire at MJ Autos, on Bedford Street, gutted the two-storey building after firefighters from a six stations across Bradford and Leeds battled the blaze for more than two hours last night.

The garage was left completely blackened, with windows smashed and the inside melted and burnt.

"It gutted the building and affected the walls and roof," said Thomas Crompton, owner of Thomas Crompton Demolitions Ltd. "The building is in a dangerous condition and has to come down.

"It was deemed to be unsafe and in imminent danger of collapse.

With work to begin this afternoon, Mr Crompton added: "We'll be working late into the night to make it safe.

"We'll be flattening it and clearing it all away. 

"Most of the work will be done today but it will take two days to finish it. The road (Bedford Street) will be closed while we do the work."

"It's devastating to hear about the impact on this business (MJ Autos), said Cllr Nazam Azam (Lab, City). "My thoughts go out to them.

"Hopefully they can find an alternative place to locate the business.

"For someone who spent time building this business up, for something like to this to happen overnight, in a matter of hours, is devastating.

"They will have spent a lot of time, effort and sacrifices on it.

"I really feel for the owners and hope they can find alternative premises to locate their business nearby as soon as possible.

"I'm confident the fire service will find out what has happened and get to the bottom of this."

The fire is also now under investigation by the West Yorkshire Police.

A police spokesperson said: "Police are investigating following a fire which was reported at 9.06pm yesterday.

"Enquiries into the incident are continuing today in conjunction with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and a scene remains in place."

Six fire engines from Shipley, Rawdon, Dewsbury, Cookridge and Leeds Fire Stations rushed to the scene battle the blaze.