FIRE crews were called to a Bradford street after a former Sunday school partially collapsed this afternoon.
Crews from Bradford, Fairweather Green and Leeds fire stations attended the derelict building on Birr Road, near Lister Park.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, which was called to the scene at 2pm, said that five per cent of the building was involved in the collapse.
Firefighters have been at the scene of a building collapse in Bradford today - read more here: https://t.co/TH12DWOmsr pic.twitter.com/GASYt0ZI2V
— Telegraph & Argus (@Bradford_TandA) October 31, 2022
No people were involved, and crews later assisted a structural engineer on site.
The Technical Rescue Unit and the Detection Identification and Monitoring (DIM) team also attended.
The incident affected public transport, with a spokesperson for First bus company saying: "Due to a police incident, service 680 will divert in both directions omitting Park View Road & Wilmer Road."
One passer-by, speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, added: "I was just driving by and there was a big emergency services presence there.
"We didn't know if someone was trapped inside or not. But thankfully it's been reported that that wasn't the case."
Another witness, Kersh – who lives in the area – said the incident has shocked the local community.
“I work night shifts, so I was in bed at the time, and then I was woken up by a loud noise,” said Kersh, who works as a dog handler.
“We were all really worried because we didn’t know if anyone was inside or not. Someone could have been fighting for their life.
“A man I know from the church nearby was literally there, cleaning up, 30 minutes before it collapsed. Two old ladies were also there.
“I phoned him after the incident, and he said that he could have lost his life.
“I’ve lived here for 24 years and never seen anything like this, so there’s a lot of shock in the neighbourhood.”
There were plans in late 2021 to demolish the building to make way for housing, when an application was submitted to Bradford Council.
Maintaining it had become a financial burden for the parish, and demolition was likely the only way forward for the "rapidly deteriorating" building - according the the application.
The application was later withdrawn after a conservation officer raised concerns.
“It’s a very old and broken building,” Kersh added.
“We’re just lucky that no one was injured today.”
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