Fire Stations at Rawdon and Otley are Saved

Fire crews tackle a building fire in Otley in 2009

The proposed closure of both fire stations in Otley and Rawdon have been scrapped.
The two stations were to have closed under plans to relocate to Menston - but West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been forced to think again after it struggled to find a suitable site.
Both stations were given a reprieve after the authority accepted a recommendation to abandon the Menston plan today.

Otley Fire Station

WYFRs pledged that the Otley and Rawdon stations would not only stay open but would now benefit from investment in the longer term.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Steve Beckley, said: "I’m sure that people who live in the locality of Otley and Rawdon will be pleased by this decision and we look forward to investing in these stations to ensure they remain fit for purpose for the future."

Rawdon Fire Station

Horsforth Councillor Chris Townsley, who is the leader of the Lib Dem Group on the WYFRA said: "This has taken some hard work over the last few years but I am glad that the Authority has been able to come up with a workable alternative, which will leave our stations where they are."

Serious RTC on M62 Hartshead leaves two seriously injured

Scene of the collision on the M62 Westbound carriageway

At around 9:00pm last night Fire, Police and Ambulance attended a serious Road Traffic Collision on the westbound carriageway of the M62 between Junction 26 and the Hartshead moor services. The collision between three cars left a person trapped who had to be cut free by the fire service. Damage to two of the vehicles was severe.

Fire appliances from Odsal, Cleckheaton and Brighouse attended.

 A Vauxhall Zafira was driven eastbound along the westbound carriageway having exited the service station by the entry slip road. There was then a collision between it and an Audi A1 and a Ford Kuga which were travelling westbound.

One of the vehicles from the collision with crews in attendance

 The drivers of the Zafira (a 37 year old male from Bradford  and the Audi A1 (a 40 year old woman from the Holmfirth area) - were injured as a result of the collision and taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance. A 29-year-old man from Ilkley, who was driving the Ford Kuga, was treated at the scene for slight injuries.
Both casualties in hospital are reported to be in stable conditions and are not thought to have suffered life threatening injuries. 
The carriageway was reopened at around 03:00am this morning 15th October

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information or saw the collision to contact them on the 101 number

Large Fire in Listerhills area of Bradford

Fire crews from around the West Yorkshire area  responded this lunchtime as fire broke out in a unit on the Listerhill's Industrial Estate, Norcroft Street in Bradford. Fire broke out when a vehicle was reportedly being worked on in a garage which forms part of the estate. Large amounts of smoke enveloped the area and could be seen from around the city. 

View from Listerhills Road

 Ambulance crews also attended long with the Police who cordoned off the are and closed roads around the site for fire crews to obtain water from hydrants in the district.

Bradford CARP being used as a Water Tower

Cleckheaton crew wearing BA

Crews used the CARP appliance from Bradford as a water tower along with  6 large jets, 2 ground monitors and Breathing apparatus sets.
West Yorkshire Fire Service said the fire started in an industrial unit containing cars, on Norcroft Street off Thornton Road.
The unit is part of a larger complex measuring 70m x 50 m. Some smaller units may also be affected.
A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said there were no reports of any injuries.

Listerhills side of the Buildings

Police have cordoned off the area around Thornton Road and Listerhill's Road, with traffic causing congestion in the area.

Nick Smith, Senior Operations Manager for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said fire crews had surrounded the blaze by about 12.30pm. Crews remain in attendance damping down at the scene.

Appliances from Bradford, Fairweather Green, Idle, Stanningley, Mirfield, Rawdon, Elland, Gipton, Leeds, Odsal, Bingley and Castleford attended the scene.  

Link to report from the incident:  http://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/news/large-fire-at-industrial-site-sends-smoke-billowing-over-bradford

Update !! Woman dies after M606 collision.

Police said this morning that a driver of one of the cars was pronounced dead at the scene of  yesterdays Road Traffic Collision on the M606. Two Heavy Goods Vehicles, a Renault Laguna and a Ford Fiesta were involved. 

Both carriageways were shut by police for more than two hours to allow the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to land and take off with the seriously injured casualty from the other car. None of the people have been named at this stage.

The Major Collision Enquiry Team would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened just before junction three on the M606 northbound at around 2pm.
Detective Sergeant Carole Greaves said: "We are continuing enquiries into this incident yesterday evening and are appealing for anyone who witnessed what took place to contact us by using the 101 Police contact number".

M606 closed due to Serious RTC on the Northbound carriageway

Yorkshire Air ambulance at the scene of the Road Traffic Collision on the northbound carriageway of the M606. Crews were called at around 2:00pm to the collision between Junction 2 and Staithgate roundabout. Fire crews from Odsal and Cleckheaton attended the incident and released casualties. It is believed that four vehicles were involved and that at least one person was seriously injured.

Traffic was diverted Southbound by taking vehicles off and then back on again via junction 2, with all northbound traffic being taken off at Junction 2 and having to use Staithgate Lane to reach the ring road and Odsal.. The motorway remains closed northbound at present with the Southbound now fully re-opened.

The full circumstances of the incident are currently being investigated but the road is currently closed just before junction two on the Northbound carriageway. Resulting heavy traffic off the motorway whilst the diversions are in place. 

"Anyone who has information regarding this incident are asked to contact Bradford Police on 101."

Man charged with Leeds Majestic Building Fire

Resulting from Tuesday nights fire which destroyed the domed roof of the 1921 grade II-listed building in City Square, Stuart James Jefferson appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday 02.10.2014) after being charged with arson at the Majestic building in Leeds on the night of the 30th September.
During the ten-minute hearing the 32-year-old, who gave his address as Broadlea Street in Bramley, Leeds, pleaded not guilty.
District Judge Roy Anderson gave him unconditional bail, but the prosecution then immediately appealed the decision. A crown court judge must now decide within 48 hours whether to grant Mr. Jefferson bail.The case will be dealt with at the Crown Court, where the first hearing is due to take place on October 16th.





Further traffic disruptions have taken place today as the remnants of the roof are made safe. Despite the extensive damage, it is believed the building itself is structurally sound and could be restored.

Major Leeds Blaze at Majestyk Nightclub City Square. Update Man Arrested !!!

Firefighters from across West Yorkshire were called to the scene of the fire at the two-storey building at the junction of Wellington Street and Quebec Street in City Square. The alarm was raised around 7.20pm. when plumes of grey smoke could be seen emitting from the roof of the building and from a first floor window facing out onto Wellington Street

Quebec street looking from City Square

 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service could not comment about the cause of the fire but it did confirm that the blaze had initially involved about ten per cent of the first floor of the building.

Early signs of fire spreading

The initial fire was believed to have been under control but gradually worsened as time went on. The Initial attendance of 2 pumps Leeds and ALP with 2 pumps from Hunslet was soon made up to Ten Pumps and Three Aerial appliances.

Water Tank being used

Water was obtained from hydrants around the City area along with supplies from a Water Tank situated under City Square.

Overall view of the roof now well alight

From the time of the incident being reported , five hours later the roof was still alight with ground monitors and Aerial appliances being used.

Aerial Ladder Platform in use

The whole area around the building was closed off, allowing room for the extra fire engines. The highways in the immediate vicinity of the building were then closed and pedestrians moved from the close proximity of the fire by the Police.

Crews surround the fire using 3 Aerial appliances and Ground monitors

A 32-year-old man was arrested last night after witnesses reported seeing a man acting suspiciously in the area. He remains in custody at this time.
The fire was reported at about 7.20pm last night and police are appealing for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area in the time leading up to the fire to contact us.”
West Yorkshire Police say road closures and diversions remain in place around City Square and police officers are in the area to assist with management of the scene.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting log 1363 of September 30 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.