Stay indoors warning as building housing explosive gasses blazes near Halifax

The scene near Shelf. Picture by Bruce Fitzgerald.

Ten fire engines are at the scene of a huge blaze which has broken out in an industrial building housing 25 HGVs and potentially explosive gases.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said crews and supporting vehicles from across the brigade were called to Cherry Tree Farm on Bowl Shaw Lane near Northowram.

They have warned this will be a “protracted incident” and they are expecting to be battling the blaze through the day and evening.

The industrial building is housing 25 HGVs, they added, as well as Liquid Petroleum Gas, Acetylene and Diesel

Eyewitnesses have reported seeing big plumes of black smoke which can be seen for miles around, with police helicopters in the skies above Shelf & Northowram.

Police have warned of delays as emergency services respond to the incident.

“Due to a large fire near to Stone Chair roundabout near Shelf please only use this route if necessary, long delays expected,” West Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Unit said on Twitter.

Jessica Foulds said on Twitter: “Loads of emergency vehicles flying around shelf and there’s a huge fire somewhere.”

Police and fire authorities have advised residents in the Shelf area to keep windows and doors shut, and if possible to remain indoors to avoid smoke inhalation. .