Widespread disruption persists as crews battle Bradford fire

As Environment Agency officers monitor the amount of water used by firefighters to avoid a flood risk,striking images of fire service personnel using foam on the burning tyres have emerged.

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our firefighters are still working hard in response to the large fire on Upper Castle Street, Bradford.

"Crews are now using foam to help tackle the blaze, but we'd like to remind all local residents to please continue to keep your doors and windows closed."

The Environment Agency tweeted: "Our officers have been on site at the Bradford fire throughout the night, and are supporting the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Police.

"We're working to make sure the firefighter water does not present a flood risk to nearby properties and monitoring the water quality."

The news comes as even more roads have had to be closed today as firefighters continue to work to battle the fire.

However, one local business has spoken out to thank the firefighters to prevent the further spread of the fire to local buildings

A spokesperson for RH Plastics Technology, which is on Pitcliffe Industrial Estate off Upper Castle Street, said: "We're very fortunate because the fire was very intense.

"It's not the massive, massive flames it was yesterday but it's still burning.

"We're lucky though that our building wasn't damaged and there is no smoke damage.

"But our site is likely to be closed down until at least the end of the week.

"I would just like to say that the fire service have done a fantastic job.

"Without their support and backup, the fire would have taken us out.

"Thank goodness the fire hasn't reached our building and a lot of other buildings," he added. "Realising that we came out ok, I think somebody was looking after us.

"Without the fire service's quick intervention, it could have been even more serious.

"I've never seen anything like it myself. We're lucky it hasn't been more dramatic than it could have been and that nobody was killed."

However, he did say the roads are still closed around the area.

"Everything is blocked off," he said. "All of the fire service's pipes and hoses are everywhere."

"It impacts us because we are in the supply chain for medical machinery for organisations in the medical sector like the NHS."

However, the fire as well as the acrid smoke from the tyres forced a total of 13 schools across Bradford to close.

He said: "It is a catastrophe for the environment with all the smoke going into the air.

"They could smell it in places closer by like Pudsey and Farsley. But I know people who could smell it all across Leeds and as far away as Selby."

Roads that have been closed off are as follows:

• Albany Street

• Spring Mill Street junction Manchester Road

• Parma Street junction Spring Mill Street

• Wood Road junction Spring Mill Street junction Tilley Square

• Ripley Street junction Upper Castle Street

• Bowling Old Lane junction Manchester Road

• Mill Lane junction Manchester Road

• Mill Lane junction Ripley Street

• Ripley Street junction Manchester Road

• Ripley Street junction Ripley Road

• Nelson Street junction Caledonia Street

• Fitzwilliam Street junction Mill Lane

• Bowling Old Lane junction Ripley Street

• Caledonia Street junction Edward Street

• Croft Street junction Nelson Street