Major fire at historic Keighley mill sparks fifth blaze in five years

A major fire broke out at the historic, derelict Dalton Mills in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on Saturday evening, marking the fifth significant blaze at the Grade II listed site in five years. The fire service deployed 12 fire engines and evacuated nearby residents due to the severity of the incident. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) said it was called to the large fire involving the Victorian textile mill at approximately 8pm on Saturday, September 12, 2026. In an update at 10:17pm, the service confirmed a number of nearby residents were being evacuated. By Sunday morning, the fire had been brought under control, with two fire engines remaining at the scene. The incident has prompted sharp criticism from Keighley MP Robbie Moore, who called the situation "deeply infuriating." In a video posted on X, Moore stated, "This situation just simply cannot continue. I've been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now, and this is our next major fire." Dalton Mills, built in the 1860s, was once one of the largest textile complexes in Yorkshire. It has been largely unused since the late 1980s and is now derelict.