Supermarket badly damaged in blaze drama

Crews were called to a fire in the open close to the Pakeezah supermarket in Ingleby Road, Girlington, at about 1.20pm.

But the flames quickly spread to the building’s roof. About 20 staff and 30 customers were evacuated as the blaze took hold.

A cordon was set up and roads were closed amid concerns the fire could spread to neighbouring businesses including a petrol station.

Specialist appliances and support crews were drafted in and at one stage off-duty firefighters were called up in West Yorkshire amid pressure on services owing to a spate of fires in the hot weather.

Two of those tackling the fire were treated for heat exhaustion.

Station manager Graham Heath said crews were originally called to a fire in the open at the back of the supermarket which spread to the roof space, making it difficult to contain and to tackle due to its height. Crews were expected to be at the scene overnight as an investigation into the cause got underway.