Fire Sweeps Soccer Stadium in Northern England; 41 Killed, 149 Hurt

BRADFORD, England — A fast-moving fire swept through a crowded wooden grandstand at a soccer stadium in northern England on Saturday, killing 41 people and injuring 149, according to officials. Millions witnessed the tragedy on television.

“The scenes were absolutely mayhem,” police officer Kevin Cooper said. “It was a sad sight seeing people scrambling, some with their clothing alight, over walls to get away from what was literally a blazing inferno.”

Witnesses said the blaze sent burning timber crashing down on many of the 3,500 fans in the main grandstand. Many of them with clothes on fire scrambled over walls and down exits to outrun the flames.

The dead included many children and adults killed in their seats.

John Domaille, assistant police chief of West Yorkshire, told a news conference that at least 40 people died at the soccer ground in the town of Bradford, 200 miles north of London. Police later revised that figure to 41 dead.

He said at least 149 people were injured and were being treated at three area hospitals.

Press Assn., the British domestic news agency, said police were investigating reports the blaze was started by a fan playing with matches.

The assistant chief fire officer, Peter Kneale, said the blaze was fanned by a strong breeze and was “a very rapid-spreading fire.” He said it started in the north end of the stands and engulfed the whole structure in smoke and flames in four minutes.

“It wasn’t until the situation was clearly visible to a lot of people that they decided to make their escape and the fire at that stage was chasing them out of the stand,” Kneale said.

Officials said there were 10,000 people in the Valley Parade Ground stadium, but only 3,500 were in the main grandstand when the fire broke out just before the half. The scoreless Third Division match between Bradford City and Lincoln City was abandoned.

The Bradford coach, Terry Yorath, suffered cuts on his face trying to help fans flee the grandstands.

“This is the worst scene I can ever recall in my life,” he said.

“The fire simply erupted at the back of the stand and seemed to spread everywhere inside seconds. It was unbelievable. We were all panic-stricken and had no idea what to do.”

Said spectator Geoffrey Mitchell, 47: “The fire just spread in a flash. I have never seen anything like it in my life. The smoke was absolutely choking. You couldn’t breathe.”

Mitchell said the exit down which he and several other people ran was padlocked.

“Two or three burly lads smashed it open with their shoulders or I don’t think I would be here talking,” he said.

More than 100 firemen and a fleet of ambulances rushed to the scene, and victims were ferried to three hospitals.

A spokesman for the Bradford Royal Infirmary said more than 30 people had been treated and more were on their way to the hospital. Most were treated for minor burns and shock, but at least two were seriously burned, he said.