Overview
- West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said the December 6 blaze at the former Ritz Ballroom on Bradford Road has been recorded as a suspected deliberate ignition.
- West Yorkshire Police and the fire service are conducting a joint investigation and have appealed for witnesses or footage.
- Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or online, quoting reference 13250700717.
- Eight fire crews and two aerial ladder platforms attended to extinguish the fire after calls around 5:16–5:22pm, with roads closed and residents advised to stay away.
- On-site inspections show the venue effectively gutted with the roof gone and collapsed services, and local groups have expressed sadness at the loss of a cultural landmark.