Video: Drama as eight cars catch fire at compound in Halifax

The incident, which also saw two gas canisters explode, happened at a business premises on Hanson Lane at 1.05am.

The police have confirmed they are treating the incident as arson.

Four appliances from Halifax, Elland and Illingworth attended the incident and used four breathing apparatus and four large jets to extinguish the flames.

Nobody was injured in the incident and firefighters managed to protect nearby business premises, which suffered heat and smoke damage.

Halifax watch commander Andy Rose said: “There were a lot of people about. The fire was really spreading. The eight cars were fully involved with fire, plus two canisters exploded, so it was really intense.

“When canisters are involved if they explode they can travel some distance. Potentially the public could have been at risk because of the intense heat of the fire and it spreading, and also because of those canisters that were placed in and around the cars.

“The biggest thing we did was protecting the surrounding buildings.”

Police remain at the site and a fire investigation officer is carrying out crime scene investigation work.

Fire crews left the scene at just after 3am.