The scorched house in Glencoe Gardens, Kippax.
by David Mackie
Seven people have been hospitalised after a fire gutted most of a house in Kippax in the early hours of this morning.
The most seriously injured is a 16 year old girl who is being treated for serious burns. Three other people received treatment for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
There had been a slight disturbance several hours before the fire in Glencoe Gardens, with a nearby shed being broken into.
Neighbour Michael Dearden said he retired for the night around half one: “I was lying in bed, the security light kept coming on and off. Next thing I just heard people shouting ‘There’s a fire, it’s on fire’.”
Mr Dearden ran up the road to the house and joined with fellow neighbour Geoff Woodhead and his son Cameron, 17.
The neighbours decided to enter the building, but were repelled by the smoke. They tried battling the fire with a garden hose, but it was no match for the inferno.
Mr Dearden said: “Within minutes, it was like candle wax. Everything was coming down. Every window was on fire.”
Soon after the fire services arrived and others from nearby housing were gathering at the scene. Five crews from across West Yorkshire were called to the property to deal with the incident, which left 80% of the building ablaze.
The cause of the blaze is now being investigated.