Residents living near a disused care home claim it is only a matter of time before somebody is killed at the site after a large fire was started inside the derelict building.

Firefighters from Idle, Shipley and Rawdon spent three hours tackling the blaze at The Knoll in Leeds Road, Greengates, which has frequently been targeted by vandals after being closed to residents in 2008.

They used specialist breathing apparatus to enter the building and high-powered fans to clear smoke after the fire was started on the ground floor at around 10pm on Sunday.

Laura Considine, of The Covet, a street overlooking the home, said the fire was the latest in a catalogue of incidents at the site and called on owner Leeds-based ADL to secure the property from trespassers.

She said: “We have children over there swearing and shouting. Two weeks ago some of them lit a campfire inside. It would be great if they could take some responsibility and secure it properly. It won’t be long before a child is killed.”

Last August the Telegraph & Argus reported how the home, which was shut by Bradford District Safeguarding Adults Board due to staff shortages, had become an eye-sore with vandals stealing copper pipes, radiators and Yorkshire stone.

Neighbour Tony Payne said: “It’s a dangerous place for them to play about. It’s very, very badly damaged inside.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) also hit out at ADL. She said: “We are absolutely sick and tired of the owners of this building failing to take any responsibility for it. This is a serious issue. It’s making people’s lives a misery round there. It’s only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. The things they are doing are getting riskier and riskier.”

But ADL managing director Jeremy Davies said the company had done everything possible to ensure the building was secure. He said: “I am sure it’s a problem to the local residents, it’s a problem to us. It’s very simple, the home should never have been closed.

“We have got it under offer at the moment and it will be sold. The community has lost a valuable facility. The children there are so despicable. We have tried everything we can but they will get through anything. The quicker we can get away the better. For many years it was a very successful care home and it was closed for completely the wrong reasons.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said children had been seen inside the building and by entering it they were posing both a risk to themselves and the firefighters.

The building has been referred to the organisation’s Arson Task Force and Bradford Council, he added.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police were called to a report of a fire at a derelict property on Leeds Road, Thackley at about 10.50pm on Sunday.

The Fire Brigade attended to tackle the blaze, which is being treated as suspicious. Anyone who has information about the fire should contact the Eccleshill NPT on the 101 non-emergency number.”