A senior fire service official has appealed to local families to ensure children stay away from a former textile factory in Keighley following a significant blaze at the disused building.
Benjy Bush, who serves as district commander for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, has warned that Dalton Mills poses serious risks to members of the public, particularly young people who may be drawn to the abandoned structure.
The incident on Saturday, September 12, marked the fifth substantial fire to occur at the Grade II* listed building within a five-year period.
Bush emphasized the numerous concealed dangers present throughout the former mill complex.
He called on parents and guardians in the surrounding area to discuss the risks with their children and impress upon them the importance of avoiding the site entirely.
The structure contains exposed floor openings and other hazardous features that pose a threat to anyone entering the premises.
Due to the deteriorating condition of the building, the fire service commander expressed concern about the safety of personnel who might be called upon to respond to future emergencies at the location.
He noted that each successive fire compounds the instability of the structure, making access increasingly perilous for emergency responders.
The response to Saturday’s emergency required substantial resources from the fire service.
Approximately 60 to 70 firefighters were deployed alongside 12 fire engines and two aerial appliance vehicles to bring the situation under control.
Bush highlighted that such deployments create significant operational challenges, as the service must simultaneously maintain its capability to respond to incidents throughout the remainder of West Yorkshire.
The fire official described the impact of repeated incidents at the site as deeply troubling for the local community in Keighley.
He indicated that the ongoing deterioration of the structure continues to raise safety concerns during each emergency response.
During Saturday night’s operation, precautionary evacuations were conducted for a small number of households in proximity to the mill after authorities identified the possibility that flames might spread to adjacent residential properties.
The evacuations proved unnecessary as crews successfully prevented the fire from extending beyond the original site.
Bush expressed concern about the current state of the complex and suggested that enhanced security measures are essential to prevent further unauthorized access.
He reflected that the site once served as a centre of commercial activity and employment within the town but now represents a persistent drain on emergency services and a hazard to local young people.
Records indicate that the company formerly responsible for the mill entered bankruptcy proceedings and was formally dissolved through a compulsory strike-off mechanism in 2021.
The 19th-century industrial complex subsequently became subject to escheat, a legal provision resulting in property reverting to the Crown Estate when no legitimate owner can be identified.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze shortly after 20:00 on Saturday evening.
Multiple fire crews and ambulance personnel attended the scene on Dalton Lane.
The fire was not declared extinguished until approximately 01:16 on Sunday morning following several hours of firefighting operations.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were requested by the fire service to assist with scene management and cordoning.
The emergency services coordination ensured public safety during the incident and facilitated the work of fire crews as they tackled the blaze.