Firefighters battle major blaze at historic Dalton Mills in Keighley

Firefighters have brought another major blaze under control at Dalton Mills, the historic, derelict textile mill in Keighley that has been repeatedly targeted by arsonists.

The fire broke out at around 8pm on Saturday, 12 September, quickly tearing through the Victorian structure. Plumes of smoke were visible from the nearby A650, and eyewitnesses reported seeing the roof collapse within an hour of the fire starting. Because of the size of the blaze and the risk from flying embers, emergency services evacuated a number of residents living closest to the mill, while others were warned to keep their windows and doors firmly shut.

At the height of the incident, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had 12 fire engines and dozens of firefighters at the scene. Bradford Council deployed emergency planning officers to support those forced out of their homes.

What happened on Saturday night?

By Sunday morning, the fire service confirmed the situation was under control, although two crews remained on site to damp down and monitor the structure. Specialist teams have launched an investigation to establish how the fire started.

This is the fifth major fire to hit the Grade II-listed complex in five years. Dalton Mills is well known to television and film audiences, having served as a prominent backdrop for hit dramas including Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey, as well as the horror film The Limehouse Golem. But its status as a filming asset has been overshadowed by a long-running battle against trespassers and arsonists.

A history of deliberate fires

A massive fire in 2022 destroyed most of the building’s interior, leading to the conviction of two teenagers for arson. Since then, the site has burned repeatedly. Crews were called to a fire there in July 2025, and in February 2026, the building was hit by two separate fires in the span of just six days. The fire service determined that both of those incidents were started deliberately.

The latest blaze has provoked deep frustration in the town. Robbie Moore, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, released a video from the scene calling the situation "deeply infuriating".

"This situation simply cannot continue," Mr Moore said, pointing out that he had been calling on Bradford Council to properly secure the site for years. "This is our next major fire," he added, thanking the emergency services for their rapid response.

Who is responsible for securing the site?

Securing the abandoned mill has been a complex legal challenge. In 2024, the Crown Estate took legal responsibility for the building under ancient property laws. This happened after the mill’s last private owner went bankrupt and a major restoration project collapsed, leaving the landmark in legal limbo.

Bradford Council has previously stated that the Crown Estate is fully aware of the security problems at the site, which has been repeatedly targeted by trespassers. While the council says it has been working alongside Historic England to find ways to secure the building, local residents and politicians are increasingly demanding concrete action to protect what remains of the historic landmark.