Homeless injured by out of control fires - meeting told

In recent months, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been visiting areas in the city that have become “hotspots” for deliberate fires.

Many of these are areas that are regularly used by homeless people for shelter or warmth.

But at a meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority’s Community Safety Committee on Friday, councillors were told that the use of such areas brought huge risks for rough sleepers.

“Hotspot” areas in the city that have seen recent fires linked to the homeless include Midland Mills, the Forster Square rail arches and the John Green Building on Bolton Road.

Discussing the issue at Friday’s meeting, Bradford District Commander Benjy Bush said: “It is well documented there is a high rate of deliberate fires in Bradford.

“One trend that our fire crews have identified is fires in areas of the city where homeless have been living. Some of these fires have spread and injured homeless people.

“These are often fires lit in good faith, often for warmth, that have then spread to the property on some occasions.

“It is an issue we want to deal with sensitively, as we are talking about very vulnerable people.”

He said the service had approached organisations and charities working with the homeless to ask what they felt was the best way to tackle the issue.

District commander Benjy Bush (Image: Newsquest) Mr Bush said: “We visited particular areas with these agencies and engaged with homeless people. We spoke about the dangers and risks involved in starting fires and how to reduce the risk of causing injuries to themselves and damaging property.

“It also helped us understand the challenges homeless people face.”

Members heard that the work had helped reduce fires in some of the hotspot areas, as well as a reduction of people sleeping in these high risk areas.

After the report was published, Bradford Civic Society raised concerns about how potentially dangerous buildings were being used so regularly.  

A spokesman said: “Some of the details in the report around the high number of fires in the city centre are concerning, and it particularly highlights the dangers faced by some of Bradford’s most vulnerable citizens. 

“What is clear is that places such as the Forster Square arches and some of the derelict buildings in the city centre are not safe nor appropriate spaces for people to be sleeping or spending time in. 

“The fire service and the Council’s homeless outreach teams should be commended for working in partnership to try and reduce these alarming incidents and find proper accommodation for people. 

“The report also highlights the urgent need to reduce the number of derelict buildings in the city centre and repurpose them where possible”