Around 80 firefighters were battling the blaze, which started at La Perla restaurant in Burlees House shortly after 2am today. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said 12 people had been evacuated from the surrounding area and that the buildings either side of the restaurant had been saved. The town hall has opened its doors to all those affected by the incident and welfare units have been set up. Calderdale Council has also asked people to avoid the town centre. In a tweet, the council said: “Please avoid the Hebden Bridge town center area until further notice, there are a number of road closures due to a large fire. We have officers and guards in the area.” Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker reacted to the news, saying: “I am sorry to see this iconic mill burn down overnight. Fortunately there are no known casualties. The town center is currently closed and people living in Hebden Bridge town center are advised to keep windows and doors closed.” West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service added that four properties on either side of the building were involved in the incident. In an 8:20 a.m. update, they wrote on social media: “6 relief crews now on scene plus 1 aerial ladder. Locals asked to avoid the area. All faces count. Crews remain to extinguish the fire.”
