A fire that claimed the lives of a mother and her three offspring, along with multiple blazes at a historic mill complex, are among the incidents that have positioned Bradford as the worst-hit area in the county for deliberate fire-setting.
Data published by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service indicates Bradford has recorded the largest share of intentional fires across the county over the past five years.
Since the beginning of 2021, crews have responded to 1,410 fires of various kinds throughout the district, placing it second only to Leeds for total incidents in the county, with 106 individuals sustaining injuries or needing hospital care.
A closer examination of the statistics reveals intentional fires now represent the leading category of incidents requiring attendance by crews in Bradford, prompting renewed safety alerts from the service.
Bradford records highest proportion of deliberate fires
WYFRS Fire Prevention Officer Ian Dellow explained that deliberate fires encompass numerous scenarios, from anti-social conduct and criminal fire-raising to garden bonfires that grow out of control.
He called on community members to flag worries about anti-social conduct and to exercise caution when disposing of waste through burning at home.
Speaking about the issue, Mr Dellow noted that intentional fires can involve situations such as someone burning household or bulk waste in their garden that spirals beyond control, as well as matters like arson and anti-social behaviour.
Tragedy that shocked Bradford
The magnitude of the issue is evident in several significant fires that have occurred throughout the Bradford area in recent years.
Among the most tragic deliberate fires in recent Bradford memory was the August 2024 fire on Westbury Road that resulted in the deaths of Bryonie Gawith, aged 29, and her three children, Denisty Birtle aged nine, Oscar Birtle aged five, and Aubree Birtle who was just 22 months old.
Doncaster Crown Court was told how Sharaz Ali made his way to the property carrying petrol following the breakdown of his relationship with Bryonie’s sister, Antonia Gawith.
Ali gained access to the property during the early hours before dousing the property with petrol and igniting it, causing flames that quickly spread throughout the building.
While Antonia managed to escape, Bryonie and her children became trapped on the upper floor and could not be rescued.
Sentencing him to a whole-life term, Mr Justice Hilliard stated Ali had sought to destroy an entire family and characterised the children as expendable in his vengeful scheme.
The case stands as one of the most harrowing instances of deliberate fire-setting in the area in recent memory.
Landmark mill hit by repeated blazes
A further ongoing concern has been fires at Dalton Mills in Keighley, one of the district’s most distinctive heritage industrial buildings.
In February, six fire crews responded to a significant blaze at the abandoned structure on Dalton Lane after flames spread across the fourth and fifth levels.
Police and fire investigators began inquiries into what sparked the fire, which followed several earlier fires at the location in preceding years.
Vehicle arsons under investigation
Recent weeks have also witnessed several suspected deliberate fires involving vehicles in the Bradford area.
On July 2, crews attended Killinghall Road following reports of a Volvo XC40 ablaze just before midnight.
The occurrence was classified as a suspected intentional ignition and referred to West Yorkshire Police, which subsequently initiated an arson inquiry.
Just days before that, emergency services responded to Ravenscliffe Avenue after a vehicle was set alight outside a home in the early morning hours.
Police confirmed an arson offence had been recorded and inquiries continue.
Mental health case led to house fire
Not all deliberate fires arise purely from criminal motives.
Last year, Bradford Crown Court heard how Zara Kurton set fire to her property on Wilson Road in Wyke after becoming persuaded that supernatural forces were present inside.
Residents reported hearing bangs before spotting dense smoke and flames coming from the property.
The fire resulted in approximately £100,000 of damage, left the property unsafe for occupation and required neighbouring residents to leave their homes.
Kurton, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, later received a hospital order and restriction order under the Mental Health Act after pleading guilty to arson while being reckless as to whether human life was endangered.
Safety warnings as concerns continue
In a WYFRS statement, Mr Dellow cautioned that items placed on cooker surfaces or inside ovens are increasingly featuring in preventable domestic fires.
He noted crews have responded to incidents involving tea towels, plastic containers and even pizza boxes catching light after being positioned too near to heat sources.
As statistics demonstrate deliberate fires continue to account for more incidents than any other fire category in Bradford, crews are encouraging community members to stay alert, report suspicious activity and adopt basic safety measures to lower the chances of both deliberate and accidental fires.
Residents seeking guidance on minimising fire hazards in their homes can find additional information on the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service website at www.westyorksfire.gov.uk.