West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has established that an deliberate fire caused extensive damage to a Victorian textile mill in Keighley that had previously served as a filming location for major television productions.
The incident occurred at Dalton Mills on Saturday evening, with the emergency beginning shortly after 8pm.
Fire crews worked through the night to bring the blaze under control, with the operation continuing into the following morning.
Twelve fire crews and approximately seventy firefighters attended the scene.
The conflagration destroyed the roof and inflicted substantial damage throughout the structure.
Authorities have classified the cause as suspected arson.
A representative from the emergency service stated that the fire had been recorded as a suspected deliberate ignition.
The Bradford district commander for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Benjy Bush, expressed serious concerns about the stability of the abandoned building and appealed to local families to ensure children maintained a safe distance.
The officer characterised the property as presenting multiple hidden hazards, with floor openings creating particular danger.
Despite acknowledging that vacant properties often attracted young people, the commander emphasised that the site remained extremely perilous and urged parents to advise their children to avoid the area entirely.
The officer further indicated reluctance to deploy personnel inside the structure given its compromised structural condition, noting that each successive incident rendered the building increasingly unstable.
The complex has experienced multiple deliberate fire incidents over recent years.
Earlier this current year, two intentional blazes were set within a six-day period.
In March 2022, a significant fire tore through the Grade II*-listed building, devastating much of the interior and causing an estimated fifteen million pounds in damage.
The former mill, constructed during the 1860s, demanded substantial fire service resources as flames spread throughout the expansive Victorian structure.
Investigations into the 2022 fire resulted in two teenagers being convicted of arson.
Court proceedings revealed that the young offenders had gained access to the site during a college break before igniting the fire.
The incident placed considerable pressure on emergency services and intensified concerns regarding security measures at the largely unoccupied complex.