FIREFIGHTERS from across West Yorkshire remain at the scene of a huge building blaze in Bradford this morning.

One councillor said he has concerns over the number of fires in unoccupied buildings across Bradford.

Crews were scrambled to Bolton Road, near the city centre, at around 8.30pm last night.

Flames could still be seen above a building at 6.40am this morning.

The scene last nightThe scene last night (Image: Submitted) At 3.49am, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) said: "Incident now reduced to six Appliances and two aerials." 

A further update at 7.08am added: "Still two aerials at the scene alongside three crews."

Bolton Road remains closed both ways from Stott Hill to Lower Kirkgate.

West Yorkshire Police say the investigation is WYFRS-led and they are there to support with road closures.

Full West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service statement

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters from across West Yorkshire are currently dealing with a high rise building fire on Bolton Road, Bradford.

"Fire involved in roof of eight-storey unoccupied apartment block. 

Emergency services have been on Bolton Road all nightEmergency services have been on Bolton Road all night (Image: Revd Pete Gunstone, Bradford Cathedral) They added: "Residents local to Bolton Road are advised to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the vicinity.

"Please avoid the area where possible to allow emergency services to deal with the incident."

'A tricky fire to extinguish'

Revd Pete Gunstone, of Bradford Cathedral, said: "At around 8.40pm, we noticed smoke and flames issuing from the roof of the building and fire appliances gathering.

"For the next hour or so, many more emergency services vehicles gathered and the police taped off the surrounding streets."

He added: "To a layperson, it appears to have been a tricky fire to extinguish.

"Although multiple fire appliances along with two long reach aerial platforms have been sent to the scene, the location of the fire seems to have made it difficult to extinguish it quickly.

"Flames are still evident at 10.30pm.

"We at Bradford Cathedral are praying for all those involved and affected."