The Deadliest Fire in the History of British Soccer

A Harrowing Scene

As the blaze began to spread, so did panic and pandemonium. Reports say that people in the stands felt the fire below their feet, and some of them looked for a fire extinguisher at the back, but there was none.

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The fire at Valley Parade, the football ground in Bradford where 56 people died. Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

It didn’t help that the stand had a wooden roof, which aggravated the fire rather than resisting it. In seconds, molten debris fell over the seating area, instantly killing some fans.

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