Fire Breaks Out on ‘Peaky Blinders,’ ‘Downton Abbey’ Set
A massive fire has broken out in West Yorkshire, U.K. on the former set of Peaky Blinders and the Downton Abbey movie.
The blaze occurred at Dalton Mills in Keighley, a former textile mill that was partially renovated to host the production of British TV shows and films. The entire building was engulfed in flames, according to a statement on the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service’s site.
“We still have crews and specialist units tackling the Mill fire in Keighley,” the latest update at 3 pm ET said, adding, “100 percent of building involved. Please stay away from the area. Thanks to local residents for their patience & partners for their support as we tackle this incident.”
“We currently have fire engines & specialist units in attendance at a fire at Dalton Mills, Keighley,” the first alert noted. “There is a lot of smoke in the area & residents are advised to keep doors/windows closed. Please avoid traveling through the area.”
BREAKING: Dalton Mill, used as a BBC Peaky Blinders filming location, has been engulfed by flames today with more than 100 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue firefighters battling the fire in Keighley. pic.twitter.com/6FWzT665gU
— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) March 3, 2022
More than 20 fire divisions reported to the scene to help contain the inferno. The blaze has been scaled back, but some crews will stay overnight to continue working on it, per BBC.
Nick Smith from West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service told BBC no one was hurt in the fire, but containing it was “challenging.”
Richard Knight of Screen Yorkshire said the incident is “a sad loss to the Yorkshire filmmaking landscape.”
“It’s one of those amazing locations that is like a destination in its own right,” he said. “It’s got the kind of provenance and scale that could attract filmmakers from far and wide.”
The building previously caught on fire in 2011. It was partially restored in 2015 and subsequently taken off the English Heritage at Risk register. It was used as a set for Peaky Blinders and the Downton Abbey movie, as well as The Great Train Robbery, Gunpowder, To Walk Invisible, and The Limehouse Golem.
