Leeds Road fire: Video shows flames from Heaton Motors

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) was first called to a building on fire in Leeds Road, Bradford at 11.54am today.

Three crews - from Bradford, Stanningley, and Odsal - rushed to the scene initially and footage taken by Zulfiqar Ali showed one of the fire engines turning up as thick plumes of smoke billowed out of the front of Heaton Motor Factors. 

The video shows the moment a fire in Heaton Motor Factors, on Leeds Road bursts into ferocious flames (Image: Zulfiqar Ali)

Mr Ali said the footage, including a photo, was taken when the fire first started.

He added: "I was driving up Leeds Road when I saw smoke coming out of the shop and I parked up on Akbar’s car park, it was a frightening experience."

Vehicles can be seen driving as normal along Leeds Road and at one point a handful of items fly out of the shop's front door, until loud sirens can be heard and a fire engine pulls up outside the premises.

People, including firefighters and a police officer, run frantically on the road and then a large clattering of glass can be heard.

It is at this point that large flames can be seen for the first time, flickering from within the shop, before expanding above the building and growing in volume.

Crews from across West Yorkshire joined the initial team 15 minutes later, as the extent of the blaze became apparent.

Seven crews were there at the height of the fire, including an aerial unit, which allowed firefighters to tackle the incident from above.

This was the moment a fire began in Heaton Motors, on Leeds Road (Image: Zulfiqar Ali)

Both floors of auto parts store Heaton Motor Factors were involved in the fire, with emergency services heard telling the public to "get back" amid the dangerous scenes.

West Yorkshire Police shut a large section of Leeds Road and advised drivers to avoid the area for much of Wednesday afternoon.

Irfan Haider, owner of Phones Doctor which sits next door to the 5m x 10m Heaton Motor Factors, was alerted to the incident by his staff and said the owner of the blighted premises asked for a fire extinguisher.

He said: "My guys tried to help him (extinguish the fire) but it was already too late."

West Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) were also at the scene.

Two sectors were formed at one point, where three large jets, three hose reels, an aerial appliance and eight firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus were used.

WYFRS scaled down its presence at 3pm as crews continued to dampen down.

A spokesperson for WYFRS said: "Many supporting resources have been returned to their base stations."

The last update came at 4pm when WYFRS said four relief crews - from Wakefield, Morley, Cookridge, and Killingbeck - were sent to the scene to take over damping down.