Dalton Mills, Keighley: Two teens guilty of starting fire

McKenzie Motron, now 18, and another 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced in October.

The duo were caught on CCTV with three others entering the lower levels of the 19th century Dalton Mills complex at about 11.20am on March 3, 2022, whilst on a break from Keighley College, to smoke cannabis.

The 17-year-old was wearing a two-tone jacket and black-and-white trainers, while Motron was wearing a grey tracksuit.

Videos downloaded by police from the duo’s mobile phones showed them exploring Genappe Mill and finding a small fire, which the youth fed with pieces of a polystyrene gargoyle that may have been left behind by a film crew.

The videos also identified the 17-year-old by his clothing.

Firefighters tackling the blaze

Fire quickly spread through the mill complex prompting owners of small businesses on the site to try and fight the flames.

Videos recovered from the duo’s phones showed them filming the inferno from their college classroom as it consumed the mill with one commenting, “Look at that!” and the other saying, “Whole building going up in flames, mush!”

When arrested the following day Motron said one of the group had lit part of a polystyrene “mannequin” but then set another fire that was too big to put out, and fire extinguishers on site were not working.

He said he was “scared and shocked” and did not tell anyone when he ran off.

The youth said he had tried to stamp out the fire, which he blamed on Motron.

The resulting fire involved 20 fire engines and other specialist equipment and needed firefighters on site until March 6.

Firefighters at the scene

In his forensic report fire investigator Neil Griffiths said the blaze had “tested the resilience” of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which needed to pump water from the River Wharfe to tackle the fire, such was its intensity.

He said the knock-on-effect might have delayed response times to other incidents.

Both teenagers were arrested the following day after being identified from CCTV footage by a college teaching assistant.

Motron, of Mexborough Road, Bradford, resisted and had to be subdued by an officer using PAVA incapacitant spray.

Prosecutor Richard Walters told Bradford Youth Court that the Grade II*-listed Genappe Mill, built between 1868 and 1877, was of national importance and was home to several businesses at the time of the fire.

It was a magnet for youngsters, who would enter the insecure building via broken windows.

Among the small businesses on site was a motor mechanic who rented a workshop from mill owner Paul Harris.

In a statement to police he recalled smelling something burning at around lunchtime and, moments later, a friend told him there was smoke coming out of the mill and he saw smoke coming through roof tiles.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher in an attempt to fight the blaze but had to retreat after smashing through a door as the area was full of smoke.

He said firefighters turned up and were faced with the mill “engulfed in flames”.

He estimated the damage to his business, as well as torched vehicles belonging to him and customers, to be around £100,000.

He said the site was not insured by the owner.

An electrician based at the mill said it was already on fire when he arrived from Bradford, and the road was closed.

He recalled: “I had minutes to grab what I could and retreated to safety.”

He said the site “was not completely secure and could have been easily accessible”.

He had previously seen two polystyrene gargoyles “smashed up on the floor” of the mill.

Giving evidence, the 17-year-old, described by the prosecution as the principal offender, repeatedly told the court that he could not remember details of the day.

Mr Walters said: “I am suggesting that you set fire to that mill and that you are lying because you don’t want to face the consequences.”

He denied any involvement in the fire and said he and the others had gone into the mill to explore it, to mess around, and “to chill”.

Responding to defence barrister Adnan Zulfiqar, Motron said he stamped one fire out and tried to use an extinguisher on another but it was empty.

He said: “By the time we’d gone to look for another one the fire was already too big.”

He also denied starting the fire and said neither he nor the youth possessed a lighter.

Responding to Mr Walters’ comment about why he filmed firefighters tackling the blaze on his phone, Motron said he thought they were “a bit stupid squirting the top of the building when the fire was at the bottom.”

In finding the duo guilty Judge Alexander Boyd said he was satisfied that both of them were identified through video evidence and that whether it was intended or reckless, “devastating” damage was caused to the mill.

He said he was satisfied that both were guilty of the offence of arson.

He adjourned the case to October 7 for sentence.