Cause of Odeon blaze revealed after quick response saves building

Firefighters were scrambled to the historic city centre building at 10.40am today (Friday) before cordoning off nearby roads.

Black wisps of smoke could be seen rising from the dome as crews from Bradford, Odsal, Cleckheaton and Shipley gathered on the roof.

Watch commander Simon Moore told the Telegraph & Argus the fire is believed to have been caused by workmen doing hot work. He described the fire as a “challenging incident”.

The fire in its early stages, with smoke coming from the left dome

One woman said: "We just sat down for a break and we spotted people evacuating, they were running down the steps.

"We didn't know what was happening, the alarm was going and then smoke started coming out of the top.

"Two fire engines came to the front, two to the back and then two more after that."

One onlooker said: "The firefighters were on the roof and have used a circular saw, presumably to get closer to the hotspots. They have been peeling back some of the copper on the dome. It's made quite a mess of the copper that'll need a fair bit of repairing."

The former cinema and theatre is being transformed into a 3,800-capacity live music venue, Bradford Live. after lying empty for over two decades.

Lee Craven, director of Bradford Live, said: “A fire broke out in the roof space below the dome of the south turret.

"Fortunately, the fire was localised and has been contained by the fire service, who arrived promptly on the scene."

The fire service used an aerial ladder appliance to help in the operation

The incident sparked an outpouring of concern for the building.

Mark Nicholson, author of People's Palace, a book about the Odeon, said: "It looks to be contained, which is a good thing."

Speaking to the T&A at the scene as the emergency services tackled the incident, he said: "It seems to be under the dome which is one of its iconic features.

"This building seems to survive anything that's thrown at it.

"It refuses to go quietly."

Riaz Ahmed, from Bradford Through the Lens, said: "I'm shocked. Lots of hard work that's been done.

"I'm emotionally attached to this building, I've documented it quite a lot.

"I've got a lot of memories of this building."

The scene in Princes Way, Bradford city centre, as the Odeon fire was tackled

Liz, who works at The Cake'ole in City Park, shared her fondness for the building and plans to change its fortunes around.

"Everybody's delighted to think it's going to reopen," Liz, who is known by many as Queen Liz of Cake'ole, said.

"There's lots of customers that have come here and said, 'We're pleased about the Odeon'.

"This morning somebody came in to tell us about the fire, it was devastation.

"It's well known, it's really well known all over."

The Bradford Live project was one of the venues used on the itinerary for the City of Culture 2025 judges visit.

Bradford Live has a long-term lease from the building owner, Bradford Council, and has an agreement in place to sublease it to the NEC Group as operator in what is a 30-year deal.

The aerial appliance reaching up to the dome

Bradford West MP Naz Shah, whose constituency covers the city centre, said: "I have spoken with the Bradford District Commander of the Fire Service who has assured me the fire is being contained and they continue to ask people to stay away from the vicinity.

"I would like to thank the emergency services for all their efforts in dealing with this incident."

Opening in 1930 as the New Victoria, the building changed its name to The Gaumont in 1950. For three decades after 1969, the building operated as an Odeon cinema and Top Rank bingo club, before finally closing its doors in 2000.

Faced with demolition, a grass-roots campaign group fought successfully to save the building, with Bradford Live taking up the challenge in 2012 to find a long-term viable use for the iconic Bradford building.

Keith Marsden, who was born in Leeds and moved to Bradford in 2017, said: "I understand from things I've read and people who live in Bradford that it was quite a magnificent building in its hey day.

"With a building as grand as that, when the covers are taken off it deserves to go back to its former glory.

"I sing in a choir and it's good to think we have somewhere to perform."

Mr Marsden said lots of people forget to look up when they walk through cities.

"You look at the Alhambra and Odeon," he said.

"They've got domed roofs. It would be nice to have them aside each other again."