The Bradford City Stadium Fire 1985 - The Football Inferno

An ancient wooden spectator stand and a dropped cigarette - the ingredients for one of Britain's deadliest soccer tragedies. Spreading with almost unbelievable speed, a small fire under a wooden bench consumed the entire stand in under four minutes.
Original TV footage: www.dailymotion.com/video/x31...
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[@gillgetter3004]

I remember this ! I was a carpenter in Detroit Michigan. For two years we were removing wooden bleacher seating, wood flooring, wood roofs and ceilings on athletic fields and arenas all over town. Replacing with concrete, steel, and aluminum bleacher seating. Also adding emergency exits etc. This was a awful disaster, and changed fire codes here in the US and probably around the world!

[@amazingsupergirl7125]

It explains why football seating is backless aluminum benches. Also, baseball seating is made of some unusual materials. But, indoor arenas for concerts would be the worst.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I was not even born, then. However, I love history and architecture. A couple states that I am familiar with have cities that adopted sensible fire codes that predate the national codes set forth by the NFPA (the NEC alone, is a bastard of the book to carry around btw), due to being particularly prone to configurations. Key in these codes were new construction using "fireproof" (nothing is fireproof, I am just using the terminology used at the time) materials, such as brick. While these communities still have had fires, even serious ones, the use of materials such as brick has absolutely helped mitigate the chance that a fire in a single structure turns into a city-wide hellscape.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

@@amazingsupergirl7125 A portion of a Stephen King movie was filmed inside a convention center. A fire started, and unfortunately, a firefighter lost his life.

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

Hundreds of Football stadiums were demolished and replaced during the 1990s as a result of this and Hillsborough disaster. I think Goodison Park is the only major stadium left eith wooden stands and that will be consigned to history soon

[@ac9110]

That's good to hear Gill. Many stadiums across the world must have been improved following this disaster.

[@kyleashdown518]

One thing I love about your channel is that you aren’t afraid to add your own perspective to the general recollection of events throughout these disasters. It really adds to the human dimension of these tragedies and why we must ensure they never happen again. Thank you.

[@BrenMurphy1]

Love hearing about English peasants before they migrated to Australia to live their best lives. 🙏

[@philipthomey7884]

@Hereandthere andnowinyourface What do you mean ?

[@anubis6864]

@Hereandthere andnowinyourface So what? Do you really think that's important?

[@Stubrit]

@Hereandthere andnowinyourface Wow, he forgot that Channel 4 started in 1982. Grab your torches and pitchforks!

[@themalaysianguy6603]

@Hereandthere andnowinyourface I dont blame him, i sometimes forget tv channels even now!

[@sheepkind]

i’ve just watched the live footage and WOW. you weren’t kidding about how quickly it spread. and seeing patrons dragging other patrons out of harm’s way, and even others joining in to help them get out faster. people gathering around to snuff out flames on a person. it’s heart wrenching. it’s gut wrenching. i hope the survivors and the injured aren’t suffering too much. also it’s awesome to see how quickly the police team cleared the stands. they were ON IT that day

[@Cherry_Adrianna]

it took 5 min, you can count it in real time.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

yes, too often in other cases, cops and security guards are too slow to switch away from their normal assignments to adapt to a greater threat. I judt watched the dawgu metro fire video on this channel, where a train driver pulled into a metro station next to a burning train and then panicked and abandoned the train and everybody inside with the doors locked, so more or less all passengers died. the cops' normal job here was to keep spectators off the pitch, but they recognized very quickly that the thing to do was exactly the opposite. physical barriers would of course not have changed their assignment like that (btw. I hope those have a good number of doors and guards with keys next to them today). I think if there had been a security fence between the pitch and the stands, then first a lot more people would have burned in the stand and at the regular exits, and then a crowd crush at the fence would have killed a lot of people before the fence would have broken and the fans would have climbed over the fence and the pile of bodies. with how close the fence would have been to the fire and how deep the crowd would have been behind the fence up into the burning stands, and the fact that a larger portion of the crowd would have tried to get out through the exits, I would expect 10-40% to have died.

[@josephastier7421]

The sight of the onrushing flashover may have also helped get fans moving out of the stands.

[@johnscanlon2598]

The police were right on it they did a great job

[@chatteyj]

@@josephastier7421 50+ people still died though, I'd like to learn more on how anyone died as from the footage it looks like a simple escape route. I think it was the people that fled in the entrance passage ways which I gather were narrow, I'm still perplexed at how so many died though. Although perhaps I shouldn't be as if there's one thing these disaster channels have taught me is that fire + lots of people + narrow passages/ exits = certain mass death usually from crushing.

[@TonyHaskett]

Watching the live footage, and seeing the man completely engulfed in flames just standing there until people around him got him on the grounds and tried to save him was absolutely gutting.

[@hewhoknowsknows]

I'm a Londoner but use to work for Bradford and Bingley and had many meetings at Valley Parade. Always paused for a minute or two at the memorial outside the main entrance and always brought a tear to my eye reading the names and ages of the victims. I remember leaving a Spurs game at WHL and seeing the disaster on TV. Could have happened to any of us. So sad and should never be forgotten.🙏🙏🙏

[@parker-ii7fg]

Sadly, the Bradford fire is really the forgotten disaster of what was a deeply troubled decade in British football. The Heysel disaster, which took place less than three weeks later, and the Hillsborough stadium crush of 1989 are far more well known, especially the latter, which ultimately led to the establishment of mandatory all seater stadiums in the UK (which was eventually followed throughout Europe) However, the Bradford fire should never be forgotten but one has to wonder why action was not taken earlier. A lesser known fact is that, just over a year earlier, the floodlights at Valley Parade had been blown over in a storm, so why didn't a review into the safety of the stadium immediately follow this incident? Why, if the main stand was set for imminent demolition, was it allowed to operate at all, let alone at full capacity? Why did they allow a capacity three times higher than average into a stadium that was known to be horribly outdated with no safety checks in place? Why was there no routine checks to clear the rubbish that had fallen beneath the terraces? Why were the emergency exits to the stadium locked, which directly led to the vast majority of the casualties on that fateful day? Ultimately, like so many other notable disasters littered throughout history, it was another case of human incompetence that led to inevitable tragedy.

[@IAMPLEDGE]

You have a point regarding it being forgotten, but only to some extent. I supported a team in division 3 at the time and have never forgotten it. My team played there a couple of months before the fire (we were in the promotion race that Bradford City eventually won). At the time it was common for most people to choose to stand on the terraces. Those that sat were generally older, disabled or worked for the press or with one of the 3 groups I just mentioned. The coach I went to the game on was members only so we all knew each other. I remain convinced to this day that had the fire happened on that day that we would have been travelling home on a coach with at least 10 empty seats. As for your points regarding the many safety failings, they were pretty much all covered in the Popplewell Report into the fire and (disgustingly) the death that occurred the same day due to hooliganism at Birmingham City's St Andrews ground. The St Andrews tragedy is the real forgotten football disaster of the 80s in England.

[@militarytankstudios9497]

@@IAMPLEDGE is it me or is hooliganism a mental illness

[@reachandler3655]

I think the answer to most (if not all) your questions can be answered with just one word: MONEY.

[@fincorrigan7139]

2 Ibrox incidents (1902 and 1971) and Bolton (1946) were all disasters with a combined death total of 125. And to echo @Rea Chandler money has a lot to do with it but also apathy, closed power structures and a willing acceptance of tragedy. It would appear that not enough children, rich or famous people were crushed for society to give a toss.

[@eddjordan2399]

money

[@Kanbei11]

I just watched the linked video and I could not believe how quickly the fire spread. Thoughts go out to all those affected. Well narrated too, you gave the topic the respect it deserves

[@wtorules4743]

He was totally professional throughout.

[@ruthmeow4262]

The linked video was rough to watch. It was so fast.

[@SUPERSPAZD]

@@ruthmeow4262 CRAZY-SCARY fast!!!!!! 😱

[@KyoKiaNexus]

literally just watched the live part adn 6 min gone from stand to ash i feel for those who have suffered from that and i didnt think it would go that fast! coodos to the coppers there for their bravery !

[@johncarter1288]

You just made me go watch it.. So fast, Brutal!

[@melsoft121]

My cousin was one of the first into the corridors. He determined quickly that no one was coming to unlock the turnstiles, and dragged a family that was determined to wait for rescue out and some others who had already evacuated helped them onto the pitch. It was the one the most people died in. He was in his teens at the time, but his quick thinking and stubborn attitude prevented the death toll being higher. He doesn’t speak of his presence at the game anymore, he chooses to allow the focus to be on those who didn’t make it. He and his family all donate to the burn units that treated the survivors to this day. I now work in event safety and use the tragedy my cousin survived as a cautionary tale to scare people into respecting fire regulations if there is any refusal. I think of the victims, survivors, and heroes of Valley Parade often.

[@theravenseye9443]

Sounds like he saved some lives that day - well done to him.

[@kedeglow2743]

May God, who used your cousin that day to save lives, Bless him for the rest of his life!

[@meetoo594]

@@kedeglow2743 Pity your god didnt make it rain or I dunno stopped all those people burning to death in the first place him being supposedly all powerful and omnipotent. I wonder how many of those people who died in agony wasted their time praying to your unhelpful and downright sadistic deity?

[@NewYawkahBroad]

I can't imagine the memories your cousin has to endure even today. His heroism speaks to his character, his humility even more.

[@brianclark9948]

@@theravenseye9443 you forget about channel 4, it started in 1982.

[@michaelhart8423]

I've seen the full footage a few times on fire fighting training courses, and every time the room goes quiet at the end...it still shocks me to see the speed of advance, and the massive radiated heat causing combustion of items (and unfortunately people) even on the pitch. Truly shocking....it always seems to require disaster to force change, rather than being proactive beforehand.

[@Raptorman0909]

The radiant heat from that must have been extraordinary -- having 100m by 20m in full rolling flame is not unlike the effect of a thermobaric bomb.

[@nigelft]

Unfortunately, you know all too well, any, and all, guidelines in safety is written in blood ... I can't remember whom said this, but I seem to recall this: "those whom refuse the improbable, may soon have to deal with the inevitable ..." ... I didn't think old, creaky, wooden escalators would be dangerous ... ... then Kings Cross happened, and changed everything ...

[@swedishmake-upgeek5650]

@@nigelft as someone who works with occupational health and safety I can attest to this. I know some people think that we regulate too much, but the rules are there for a reason.

[@Torahboy1]

To be fair, fire safety has been improved all over Europe on a continual basis. We can’t know how many disasters have been averted due to these upgrades. It’s not as though they thought an all wooden stand was a great safety asset. As we heard here, the stand was about to be pulled down and replaced. Money, sadly, is always an issue. If it weren’t, then every structure would be built and maintained to the highest POSSIBLE standard. Not to the highest AFFORDABLE standard.

[@2themoon863]

In fact, wasn’t the steel to be used to build the new Main Stand already in place, ready to build the new stand once the old stand was torn down (also this was the last match of the 1985 season)?

[@PibrochPonder]

Many of those pictures were taken by a relative of mine (he worked for the local paper). Pretty harrowing and sad. His pictures helped in the investigation work that followed the disaster. RIP to all the people that died.

[@MeadowFarmer]

I watched the Daily Motion footage. It's shocking how fast the fire spread. It provides a warning to always get away from a fire as quickly as possible.

[@angelagraham2001]

It's so horrific watching them still cheer and celebrate when there are people clearly passed out, or worse, being dragged from the stands.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

yes. and if you're not close enough to the fire to feel threatened by it, but there is a crowd between you and the fire, move away to make room for those who are closer!

[@ryanfraser167]

And to not build football stadiums etc with extremely flammable materials like wood...

[@amazingsupergirl7125]

I was surprised to see so many people just standing around

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

@@angelagraham2001 most of those people would be completely pissed up this is English football in the 80s we talk about it didn't usually attract the countries good samaritans

[@robmontier639]

I worked in an oil refinery and as you can imagine, we had regular fire safety presentations and this was one. Problem here was - nobody actually rang 999. This was before mobile phones., of course. An off-duty fireman was watching this on TV and rang his local station to tell them they'd need back-up. "What for?" They had no idea the incident was occurring.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

the police would have had radios, so they would have been somewhat informed through that circuit... but yes, my guess is, the only phone being in the burning grandstand, communicating the emergency would have been a real issue....

[@SeamusMartin1]

I have listened to the recording of police radios that day. A police officer in the stand actually told control to call the fire brigade at a very early stage, and the fire brigade were on scene within minutes. Their sirens can be heard on the TV coverage. Unfortunately, the stand was completely ablaze by that time, so fast did the fire spread.

[@klaseronen7535]

I was 10 years old when this terrible tragedy happened. It was shown in our Finnish TV sports programs and TV news. I played football at the time and I was appalled to see that people who went to the match to enjoy the game had to die in the flames and because of the heat. This was something that will forever be printed into my mind. I wish those who lost their lives are resting in peace and that their loved ones have found at least some kind of consolation for their immeasurable grief.

[@JosephKulik2016]

Yes, indeed !!! May the dead rest in Peace while the Criminal Capitalists responsible for this fire are counting their money on the way to the Bank !!! It was Gullible people like YOU who PT Barnum was thinking about when he said: "There's a Sucker born every minute."

[@samanthagomez7074]

Wow really

[@zetectic7968]

I remember watching this on TV: shocking. This and the Kings Cross fire showed that routing cleaning that was neglected could lead to catastrophe. It also shows that health and safety need to be checked and kept up to date.

[@MrManfly]

Just saw the link. Absolutely horrific, including an elderly man on fire on the field !!

[@adamlee3772]

Yes, H&S needs to be looked at. But we are all also responsible for each others H&S. it’s a constant gripe of mine, I see people at work in the smokers huts that are safe, kind of, and they have proper bins to dispose of their cigarettes but they just flick them on the fucking floor. It’s a filthy habit but made filthier by smokers habits. And caused to disasters that I know of. Dispose of the filthy cigarettes in the bins provided.

[@barryrudge1576]

I still have an original recording of this event on VHS tape when it was shown live on TV. I was surprised that many more people didn't die in this disaster. As for the fencing at other venues that lead to an even greater disaster. The footage is unbelievable when you see people nowhere near the flames when suddenly their hair and clothing on their backs would set fire. One police officer in particular holding his helmet in one hand and smoke coming from the back of his head. Appalling scenes to watch throughout.

[@shawniechew]

I live in Bradford, I wasn't born when it happened but can see how its ingrained in the people of Bradford. A few members of my family were there, my uncle was one of the people who helped people over the wall and onto the pitch. The one good thing that came from this was Bradford's burns unit, that was founded by Professor David Sharp OBE, who was the consultant plastic surgeon at Bradford at the time, who was the person who treated everyone that was sent to hospital with burns, and went on to find new ways to treat burns that are now used worldwide.

[@suzieb8366]

So very sad. As you said, thank heavens there was no fencing erected. RIP those who perished and love, respect and prayers to all those who suffered due to this tragedy.

[@grapeshot]

This announcer's emotional eyewitness testimony to this disaster I put it up there with the Hindenburg announcer's eyewitness testimony of that disaster.

[@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55]

The hindenbergs anouncer wasn't live or an eyewitness. It was dubbed over after the fact. The Bradford announcer did do one hell of a job though

[@danieljohnson2005]

@@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55 Really? I never knew that. That kind of ruins the whole thing, actually.

[@BlurnGanston]

high-geekery en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Herbert_Morrison_(journalist) info on “Hindenburg announcer”

[@worldcomicsreview354]

@@danieljohnson2005 Wasn't there a radio reporter live on the scene, though? Edit: OK, it wasn't broadcast LIVE live, but it was recorded as events unfolded, which is about as eyewitness as you can get.

[@chrisb8756]

@@worldcomicsreview354 Yes, Tony Delahunty was the commentator - kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3-WlXaKp7ane68

[@boblordylordyhowie]

I was burned 1 year before this happened and as one man ran out on fire, my girlfriend told me that's what I had looked like when I was burned in a gas explosion. I was treated at Wakefield's Pinderfields hospital and my consultant was the same man who treated the victims of this disaster.

[@HelixTheCunt]

When you were explaining the materials that comprised the stand. All I could think is flammable, flammable and MORE FLAMMABLE. It’s no wonder the fire spread so quick. I’m sorry that your friend had to experience this incident first-hand. Quick side-note. There’s a gory horror movie on the Banana Splits animatronics. I enjoy horror movies and have seen, as well as enjoyed it. Thing is, I thought The Banana Splits was just of course a fictional horror movie, I didn’t know The Banana Splits was something real until this video today O.o

[@militarytankstudios9497]

that movie was just Freddy faz trash(get it?)

[@forceoffriction]

If you're a horror fan, check out the Dead Meat channel on YT. They covered the Banana Splits movie in an episode (and now I have the tra la la song stuck in my head)

[@militarytankstudios9497]

@@forceoffriction I aint a FNAF fan now since a certain game theorist made a false claim about one of the fnaf charathers

[@janicesullivan8942]

Th Banana Splits was only a kid’s tv show to me, never heard of a horror movie by the same name.

[@militarytankstudios9497]

@@janicesullivan8942 Dont watch it please, it has fnaf movie written over it and has been influenced by fnaf like the animatronics and that old guy who made them is like William afton

[@TracyA123]

Horrifying! 5 minutes?!?!?!?!? What?!?!?!? Faster than people could outrun the flames! It's so hard to imagine being in that situation. I'm absolutely terrified of being in a fire. My worst recurring nightmare is being in my grandfather's house trapped in a fire. It's so surreal that people were laughing and singing while this tragedy took place. The TV footage is shocking. Well done my friend! Another great video and such class in having no commentary when showing the victim's names on the memorial. Sub count thru the roof and deservedly so! 👍 Still would love a PP link so I could help. Keep up the great work!☺

[@wtorules4743]

It is surprising that the cameras kept rolling. The broadcast team especially the commentator done an incredible job under unprecedented scenes. We have learned so much from this about the dangers of fire and how quickly it can spread.

[@lesleygiles8924]

As I recall, the broadcast was cut even though clearly the cameras continued to work. The transmission returned to the studio.

[@RobJaskula]

Truly one of the finest moments in sports broadcasting history. This performance is legendary

[@lumabi25]

Although the TV crew was there to cover a football match, they're professionals and they know to expect the unexpected. No doubt they'd have had their mouths hanging open in disbelief but they knew it was important to capture what happened. Sentimentality has to temporarily take a back seat in these situations.

[@wtorules4743]

@@lumabi25 I'm glad the kept it rolling. I'm just surprised the director didn't intervene and cut away to the studio as they would when potentially sensitive issues transpire unexpectedly. My feeling is that because the fire started small they kept with it, then couldn't cut away once the situation escalated.

[@susi-emily]

@@lesleygiles8924 It was the other way round. The game wasn't being shown live, it was only being recorded for highlights to be shown later. When the fire broke out Grandstand went live to the ground and showed the whole thing unfold. I remember watching it. I was 14 at the time, and loved football. My brother and I watched Grandstand every week without fail.

[@douglasallan1591]

This is so harrowing and heart-wrenching beyond belief. As much as we deem football ‘the beautiful game’, it’s worth noting that it is a game which is no stranger to immense tragedy with the Bradford City Stadium fire, the Hillsborough Disaster, the Munich Disaster and the 1971 Ibrox disaster among many others being a testament to this. RIP to all the victims of this horrific tragedy. Another great narration and greetings from Scotland.

[@cmonkey63]

The speed of the fire spread is truly horrifying, but in retrospect not surprising given the stands were made of old match sticks covered in tar, with plenty of kindling below. The ages of some victims are as young as 11, and I can only speculate how the Australian man lived with the knowledge of his accidental cigarette triggered such a fire.

[@gregb6469]

If it was me, I would have determined that day that I had smoked my last cigarette.

[@johnscanlon2598]

It had all the makings for an inferno ! Imagine all the built up layers of flammable paint , tar and whatever else all that stuff was highly flammable back then

[@messiahsbythesackful6267]

I'm a tad shaken, but I'll start with sympathy for everyone touched by this tragedy then and now. The ripples never stop until everything is forgotten or lost. You've ensured that the story and the people will be remembered by a whole new group of people. Here's my story.. Television in the 80s in the rural areas surrounding the rust belt stretching from Pennsylvania to the Mississippi was about the same. I was alerted in 1987 by local "breaking news" that the grandstand at the fairground where I had shown horses and beef and rabbits was on fire, and even though I was in college and I knew that there wasn't anything scheduled when this happened, my entire chest shrunk to the size of a pea, and I remember shaking my head, grabbing my keys and driving there, switching radio stations for alerts as I got closer. When I arrived a few hours later, reporters were interviewing exhausted firefighters in the eerie near-dark night with lights still illuminating smoke in the air, but congratulating one another that there were no casualties except for three standardbreds stabled at the track for training. I found the trainer around the back where the barn had been. Cinders had crossed 1/4 mile from the grandstand and ignited the barn. One man and a garden hose hadn't been enough. Anyway, I haven't shared this in years. It's a tragedy without loss to most people, if you know what I mean. But loss is loss, and grief is grief. Anyone who has read this far, thanks for listening.

[@punchdrunkassassin]

I understand this completely. My high school burned down about a decade ago, and while I'd been out of it for going on 5 yrs at the time, it still felt awful to see. I grew up in a small town, it was a regional high school, perched higher on the hillside and visible from nearly everywhere in town. It was built in the 1940s in a streamline moderne style and everything about it was beautiful, even by my time there in the early '00s. My grandparents and parents attended the school as well, it was so significant to me, even if my actual high school experience was awful. I found it really fascinating, and loved all the opportunities I got to explore the various tunnels and passageways and inner workings of the building during my time there. No one knows why it burned, it was under construction over the summer to add more classroom space and it happened at night so it could have been anything, though arson is suspected. I was in another part of the province at the time and seeing pictures and videos from those back home documenting the blaze made, and still makes, my heart hurt so much. No loss of life there either, thankfully, but just the loss of something iconic that I had a deep love and appreciation for. I had a hard time explaining the grief I felt over this building so I'm glad for your post, despite how sad it is you experienced that.

[@kyleg9735]

Glad your buddy made it out safely. Incredible story. Terrible tragedy. RIP to the victims.

[@patriciayoung3267]

Thank you for including the actual footage in a link. This important video is not for everyone's viewing but it needs to be seen and remembered.

[@andrewdaley3081]

Yes i agree. 🇬🇧👍

[@azrailfan2717]

I watched the footage and the one part that stuck with me is the man who was completely engulfed in flames staggering out. If I remember correctly he ended up passing away shortly after 😓

[@daviddunsmore103]

Even as an eight year old kid growing up in Canada, I remember seeing this on the news! 🇨🇦 It was shocking and caused a major rethink in fire safety in all large venues.

[@VodkaRob]

I can remember watching this when it happened and it was a different world back then. They didn't switch the cameras off or even divert them in those days and it was horrifying, seeing people on fire and police officers along with other fans trying to put them out with coats or whatever they could get their hands on. The speed of how it spread was the most shocking. And it was quite bizarre how there was still fans singing. Very strange. As you say it is the forgotten one of the disasters in football so it's good to bring it to the attention of people. Great video. Thank you and Rip to all the victims.

[@333ivan333]

Yours is becoming one of my absolute favorite channels. You have a style, a grounded, gritty, humane style that is perfect for these (very heavy) topics. I do hope you keep this up, I am learning from and greatly appreciating these mini-documentaries.

[@gogorreal]

You even included a link for the full broadcast, you are the man. Keep up the good work!

[@himssendol6512]

Omg it really did spread so fast. Slightly related/unrelated but i can imagine the 1666 great fire of london spreading equally fast, burning through wooden structures. 😳🔥

[@Ozvideo1959]

What occurred that day even from the other side of the world was a wake-up call for everybody. For example, here in Australia, in the wake of the Bradford fire there were fire safety audits done on many of the suburban stadiums which were subsequently found to be fire traps. This resulted in many suburban stadiums being closed, in favour of teams sharing better facilities at larger, better maintained stadiums.

[@ArchTeryx00]

Fires in general spread much faster than people realise in flammable environments. People criticise the fire brigades all the time for slow responses, not realising that a house can go from a small fire to fully involved in 5 minutes - and become loaded with lethal smoke in 30-60 seconds. And that's a house built to code. Those stands were a bonfire pile just waiting for a spark to light them up and light up they did. Even if the fire brigade were *right there* it would have made no difference. The video is one of the most surreal things you will ever see - Bradford fans chanting the team song loudly while trapped people, trying to get through the inferno to the pitch, burned alive on live TV. People walked out still burning. Policemen were running about on fire. And the announcer provided calm narration throughout the incident. At one point he said, "This, is human tragedy." Yes. Yes it was.

[@goncasworld]

I like how you both point the worst characteristics of these disasters as well as some positive or least bad aspects, like the ones about how people bravely tried to save as many as they could and how it fortunately didn't have a security fence around the field. Just got to your channel a few days ago and I'm finding the videos very interesting, the info very well organized and summed up. Keep it up!

[@defective6811]

Hell, I feel bad for the guy whose cigarette started the fire. He clearly did what little he could in the moment and afterwards, and given how prolific cigarette smoking was back in the 80s its not at all surprising that this happened - it's only surprising it hadnt happened sooner, honestly.

[@kateemma22]

Bradford and Hillsborough are my go to references when people complain that they hate seating-only and very safe sports stadiums these days. If you want to hang out in a fire pit or a crush cage go ahead but the rest of us go to the stadiums to watch sports, not die. Two very different disasters - as you stated no fencing saved lives here, and the cops were wonderful in this case unlike Hillsborough - but this kind of horrific nightmare simply wouldn't happen today and thank goodness for that.

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

Standing terraces had no responsibility in either this or Hillsborough hence why the government legalised standing again last week. Both disasters were a result of outdated infrastructure and in the case of Hillsborough poor crowd management

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

@@indiekiddrugpatrol3117 ...And in the case of Heysel, murderous thugs.

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

@@tooleyheadbang4239 the Belgian FA didn't maintain the ground properly they shouldn't have even been able to topple a brick wall but yea those Liverpool fans have blood on their hands.

[@jamesr1703]

I watched the live footage that you provided and it is, indeed, astonishing how fast the fire spread. As you said, the whole structure was engulfed in under 5 minutes. Unbelievable!

[@revmo37]

I remember this awful event. Thanks for remembering this is such a dignified way. Fantastic work as always

[@MasterQuizzer]

About 18 months after the event I was working at Fire Service College in the Midlands, where they did residential training courses for fire service personnel from all over the country. Fr time to time they had visiting speakers and this day they had speakers from the brigades and police that attended the disaster. They showed footage that never made it to TV with the emergency service radio chatter added - it was absolutely harrowing. One of the cops in charge of identifying the dead said that for several days they thought that they had one extra victim - it was only at the autopsy table that the discovered that the "victim" was a melted roll of plastic sheeting, which gives you an idea what the real victims went through.

[@SJR_Media_Group]

I remember this tragic fire. People trying to escape were burned outright or burned by radiant heat. Anyone standing within 50 meters would have received 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Those trapped inside and under roof were burned beyond recognition. People running away had smouldering clothes and even their hair. Their skin was falling off in huge pieces.

[@WayneM1961]

I was actually born and bred in the city of Lincoln. I went to many matches at our home ground of Sincil Bank, but seldom to away games. I'm 60 year old now, but remember as if it were yesterday the terrible scenes of that day. In particular, I remember the commentator of the game John Helm when a "human fireball" came staggering out of the burning stand, John exclaimed "look at this! oh the poor man, he came to watch the football, now people are desperately trying to save the life of that supporter." They were unsuccessful, he later died in hospital. Your account of the terrible tragedy is extremely accurate indeed.

[@glen1555]

What is often forgotten is 2 of the victims were from Lincoln.

[@WayneM1961]

@@glen1555 They were indeed.

[@normanby100]

@@WayneM1961 The Stacey West stand at Sincil Bank is named in their honour.

[@FerretKibble]

New Zealand had only two t.v. channels... as a teenager I asked my mother about me remembering seeing a man on fire running onto a football pitch and she straight out told me it never happened. When I saw a "x years since Bradford City stadium fire" post on social media, there was no mistaking THAT image - it was exactly what I remembered.

[@colemarie9262]

I appreciate hearing how the average person felt watching this unfolding in real time, and even at school after with the kids involved. This is history, so thanks for putitng a personal perspective on things when you can. We have enough disaster channels that deal with the facts alone.

[@brendanwilliams7291]

When you look at footage of fires like this one, your heart is filled beyond full capacity with grief for those who perished in the fire, I was 9 years old at the time and seeing this footage on TV 📺 in Australia, was horrible and sad.

[@Kilbotz]

Eric Bennett is like the guy who's fridge blow up in Grenfell Tower. Where a lot of people were blaming him for the fire in Grenfell Tower. When yes his fridge blow up, he called the fire brigade, grabbed some personal belongings and left. He didn't clad the building in highly flammable cladding. Nor did he even know about it and it's why he's currently under police witness protection. It's almost the same with the police not releasing the name Eric Bennett until thirty years later. It was like their own form of police witness protection. Even though he dropped the cigarette. He didn't leave literally decades worth of flammable rubbish to pile under the stand. Nor did he know about and also he didn't build the roof out of flammable materials, get rid of all the fire extinguishers and lock all the fire exits. That was the club and because people didn't want to get angry with the club. They looked for a scapegoat and that was him.

[@cohen8688]

What a fantastic channel. Had the pleasure of learning about events I didn’t even know happened!

[@TheKevlarKitten]

Thank you for including the actual footage in the description. It was shocking to see how fast is spread in real time!

[@amphiptered.5355]

I have to say that it nice to see how quick the officers were to quick to react and evacuate the civilians to the pitch. Still it is sad to see that not everyone made it. Just looking at the original footage led me to believe that there would only be injuries as well.

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

I was 11yrs old that day, and also watched live on Grandstand. Today, the cameras would be turned away. I just remember how surreal it was, and since I watched everyone go onto the pitch, never imagined how many people were trapped behind the stand. All stands are built on concrete now. The language of safety is always written in blood.

[@Majorzilla2000]

Thank you so much for making these videos, I’ve been watching for years and the knowledge of disasters and tragedies you share is something everyone should know and to pay respect for the victims of these tragedies but also the fact that this stuff can happen anywhere to anyone at anytime

[@HersheyBARZ_]

so hard to hear that it was scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt just days later! wow. TY for providing the link to the actual broadcast. It helps understand the RAGE of the fire. Wow.

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

As sad as it is its a miracle that this didn't happen sooner and/or more often, until the late 1990s most English teams played in outdated wooden stadiums where smoking was legal.

[@indiekiddrugpatrol3117]

@UCJXzROslLMTAQpJtfJf7G9w I can't talk about the US but in the UK most Div 1 (Premier League) grounds were disasters waiting to happen as proved by this and the Hillsborough disaster. Most stadiums got demolished or rebuilt in the 1990s but its sad cause the old grounds had much more character and atmosphere than the modern bowl stadiums, once Goodison park goes in a few years there won't be a single "big" club with an old school stadium left.

[@Eibarwoman]

I'd say it's a miracle it didn't happen more often globally as even the least flammable stadiums often found in Spain, Brazil, or the US at the time for various reasons were still quite flammable given cleaning wasn't a priority for example even with concrete floored stadiums. Edit: The Spanish stadiums has to do with Copa del Rey home game assignment where the lower league team gets home game which given the volatility of the Spanish game meant teams could fall from lower table La Liga to 4th or even 5th Division in a decade.

[@chrisblake3341]

I am from Bradford, many people know someone who passed in the fire and we do a special commemoration to the victims every year. There is a memorial in the town centre. We do a 2 minute silence I believe at the start of every season for the victims too. Reading through the comments I am surprised how far-reaching this disaster was, though I was not born at the time.

[@glen1555]

It's the last home game of the season, as close to the actual day as possible, and there is also the service in the City Square on the actual day.

[@vanessahenry7238]

I was watching the game on the telly as well with My grandmother! This tragedy and the one with the upper ledge falling on other football fans were hard to forget! Thank you for making sure no one forgets!

[@susanyoung5447]

Thanks for the TV footage. I kept the sound off so it was bearable to just watch. I caught sight of the flames starting as the camera ran past and then OMG. I couldn't believe how fast it moved after that. That footage really brought home to me what happened that day and how fast a fire can spread.

[@lorrainecampbell9202]

I remember seeing this on the television and it was heartbreaking. Years later, whilst studying for an IOSH safety course, this was used as an example of how fire behaves. Some of the things that happened that day blew my mind, I was desperately sad for days. Peace be with you all.

[@ZoeAlleyne]

Holy shit I went and watched that footage...oh my God, that was so fast. Gotta admit that the coppers did a good job getting them out.

[@Yosetime]

Thanks for the additional video link. It was a tragic scene seeing it unfold as it happened. Truly terrible!

[@chrisgardner4743]

Such a sad and horrific event. I watched the link you provided, and I can't imagine the horror of watching it happen live on TV. It certainly was worse to have been at the game. I'm very happy that your school friend made it out.

[@kapitanleutnantschneider2076]

After watching the live footage you provided all I can say is that's quite frightening. That fire spread unbelievably fast.

[@londonspade5896]

When you said the number of people who died my mouth opened, I was expecting 'only' a couple, because I thought everyone escaped onto the football pitch

[@markjjnstradling]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I planned to be at the game, but arrived late after an argument with my late Mum in Harrogate...... just as the fire was spreading, so luckily I never entered the ground. It was really shocking. I'd never seen anything like that before. In 1987 I left the UK to live in Asia, but at the time in 1985 I worked in the knitting wool textile industry in Idle, Bradford; Robin Emu Mills. I think 2 or 3 of the 56 worked there. Going to work the next day was really dreadful. Everyone was in a daze. I won't ever forget that Sunday and Monday......ever. Thanks again for taking the time to make and upload the video, and may God always bless the 56.

[@peterknowles2344]

Thanks for sending and reminding the world of this tragedy.I use to go in the stand but was a student in Edinburgh at the time and I watched in horror as it unfolded live on tv. My mate still has the pictures of him from a national newspaper pulling people over the wall to escape . It was amazing how poor facilities were back then.

[@WittleJeh]

I watched the linked video, and it was truly horrific! That poor man on fire walking... all those people trying to put the fire out... I cannot even imagine his fear and pain. 😭

[@jonawesolowski-thecommunit9968]

That really got to me. He almost looked dazed before they got him on the ground

[@mrkipling2201]

Sadly he passed away.

[@reachandler3655]

Most people don't realise how frighteningly fast fire can spread. The one thing that amazes me is how many continue to sing and cheer, even as that stand is engulfed in flames and the pitch is full of fleeing spectators.

[@user-ug2wk7db2g]

As part of my training i watched all the footage nigh on frame by frame. Some of it I will never forget. To this day there is no explanation for some of the scenes. This was the biggest wake up call for assessment of structures and fire risk. Ive seen the unrestricted footage of Chernobyl. Of the two Bradford still sticks in my head. Excellent overview presentation.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

Thank you for linking the original video. Crazy how fast flames can take over.

[@connorcore7008]

I was made to watch this disaster as part of our fire safety training when living in a university hall of residence. I've never forgotten the sheet horror of it.

[@ericastier1646]

It's fair to say that this fire catastrophe was the direct result of the football culture and disregard for most basic fire safety prevention. Letting litter of paper wrappers accumulate under the benches for years (knee deep) is worse than a dried hay. It's the obvious cause for the rapid spread of the fire. The man who let a cigaret butt slip under the benches isn't really responsible for much. This situation was a ticking bomb. It was prone to happen at any of these matches.

[@deestephens3881]

Watched the original footage. Wow!! Thank you for a great vid.

[@roadweary5252]

Another excellent upload. You deserve far more subs, sir 👍

[@JimmyRJump]

In Belgium, we'd gotten the BBC on cable just in time to see the 1985 World Championship Snooker coverage where Dennis Taylor won over Steve Davis with a re-spotted black ball taking all the attention. Saw the Bradford Stadium fire unfold live on TV as it happened. Remarkable how fast it went. From a small plume of smoke at the right-hand side of the stand to a full-blown fire in mere instants. Horrific it was. I remember vividly how a guy engulfed in flames walked like a zombie from around the far corner of the tribune. Such drama and sadness gone by almost in the blink of an eye.

[@sarahcoleman3125]

That must have been pretty traumatizing to watch as a kid, especially knowing your friend was there. I'm glad he was okay.

[@RagingMoon1987]

Another superb video, and a personal one at that! Well done!

[@j2msu341]

Without a doubt this has to be one of the best made and presented videos I've ever seen !

[@austinlawler3739]

I've heard about this many times and seen the original footage, but this video is much different. With your first hand accounts and friend in the stands and their story, it really gives a different look and feel to the story. I do not doubt if that security fence was there, a thousand people could have died with how fast it spread.

[@Teverell]

I've seen the footage of this fire; it's terrifying how quickly it spread. Less than five minutes from the very first puffs of smoke to the whole stand ablaze... there was an elderly couple who died in their seats because they just did not have time to get away. It just doesn't bear thinking about how many people would have died if Valley Parade had had the fences that other stadiums had at that time - the fences which contributed in no small part to the crush at Hillsborough that led to the deaths of 96 people there only four years after this fire. Thank you for bringing this to a wider audience, and in such a respectful way. It's obviously had a profound effect on you - I am glad your friend was OK.

[@jgraaay18]

I'm guessing that the ground didn't have them due to the club's financial troubles; but yes, their absence saved a lot of lives that day. I don't doubt that if they had been present, this would've been the deadliest fire in modern British history by a horrifyingly large margin.

[@emilydearlove5101]

I just finished watching all the videos on this channel. Really well made and respectfully done, keeping to the facts as best you can and paying tribute. However I am now going to have to buy a new box of tissues. Some very sad and crazy stuff, but also educational and eye opening I think.

[@mick3765]

The best most informative video I've seen on this, thank you.

[@randallrona9618]

Hey, Raven's Eye Channel. Please do other videos in the future about tragedies and calamities in the Philippines because they were quite underrated and only few people around the world knew about the tragic events. Thank you. - Mt. Pinatubo Eruption(1991) - Mt. Taal Eruption(2020) - MV Doña Paz Tragedy(1987) - MV Princess of the Stars Tragedy(2008) - The Manila Hostage Crisis(2010) - The Manila Casino Resort Attack(2017)

[@joshs2734]

They locked the gates and removed the fire extinguishers in a stadium with 3 times the amount of people in it than intended and piles of kindling everywhere...it's like they were trying to cause a horrific tragedy.

[@mattc.310]

Disasters force change. It's unfortunate but true. Hopefully it just takes one but sometimes the lessons aren't learned. If the rubbish had been cleaned from under the stands on a regular basis, they would have been replacing them after the match as planned. The video of the incident is heartbreaking, but also very upsetting knowing the details. Your delivery, as usual, is right on point.

[@JamesonLink_]

Great video with great context

[@thomashan4963]

It was my first and only match to see English football I was visiting there with my aunt. We were on the opposite side of the stand. And I still remember the heat was too strong I could feel it.

[@Muesli711]

I grew up in Ireland but this is etched in my childhood memory. One question, how exceptional was Valley Parade in not having metal perimeter fences? I had never thought about this point but thank God there were none. RIP to all the victims.

[@simonpearn479]

Excellent video again R.E. And what brilliant and harrowing commentary by John Helm in the link!

[@ozziepete55]

I remember that day. It was a great tragedy & it shocked me but some good did come out of it. It more than likely saved many more senseless deaths from the world wide shock of this event. The increase in fire awareness & fire proof stands getting built did a great deal to stop a tragedy like this happening again. Thanks Mate.

[@foxesofautumn]

I can't really blame the guy who dropped the cigarette. He was allowed to smoke there and it wasn't his fault there were piles of rubbish under the stands, no fire extinguishers (aside from coffee!), and little the wardens could do. I am just glad people could get onto the pitch easily because it could have been so much worse, as you say.

[@rich7787]

That linked video is terrifying, it’s spreads so fast, just describing it doesn’t do it justice

[@kiskaloo6843]

I remember watching this live. I was watching BBC2 and my sister called to tell me to turn to the football match. I remember seeing a man with his hair on fire, he was dazed and someone came up to put it out. This was very dark era for football, with Heysel happening just a few weeks later and then a couple of years after that was the Hillsborough disaster. I had only ever been to one football match at Swansea's Vetch in 1982 and the fences scared me when it was so packed in the stands. I was a rugby fan and went to many rugby matches and never felt scared for my personal safety the way I did at that one football match. It would have been so much worse if they had that fencing at Bradford.

[@BlueBirdsProductions]

Ima bring you back to GCSE English lessons when I tell you this is your best work. I'm only 2 minutes into it and this specific video's doing an amazing job of putting me in the setting, like a fictional story. The tragic part is that it's a non fiction story. You're doing an insane job of setting the scene, because you were actually there. Great work man, top notch.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

I lost two close friends in the Station nightclub fire. People don't realize just how fast fire moves or how deadly smoke is. That's what gets you.

[@shotforshot5983]

I very much respect the man who admitted his role.

[@WFHermans]

Strange that he got safely out.

[@johnjohnnyjohnson9987]

@@WFHermans Not really as he was one of the first to be aware of the fire. I would assume people at the back of the stand on the opposite side were more at risk.

[@WFHermans]

@@johnjohnnyjohnson9987 It would have been nice if he had warned other people about the fire.

[@johnjohnnyjohnson9987]

@@WFHermansI would guess he probably did as he was honest enough to admit his mistake. Regrettably this doesn't help the families of the victims.

[@jamesthrall569]

Read the book by Martin Fletcher-no way was this started by a dropped cigarette

[@mrkipling2201]

You want to hear the commentary of Tony Delahunty, who was commentating on the game for local radio. He was saying " everybody get on that pitch! " 54 Bradford fans and 2 Lincoln fans were the ones killed. I always found it strange that Bradford picked up the League title before the game. It was normally presented afterwards. Just an observation. The Old Showground, Scunthorpe United's ground was closed down and they built a new ground because it was cheaper than refurbishment of the old one. Due to a large part of the ground being made of wood.

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

My friend I'm so glad I came across your channel I love your videos they are so interesting especially the ones I seen you put more information in it keep up the sensational Job my friend

[@mrkipling2201]

I remember watching Grandstand and they started talking about something happening at Valley Parade. A fire they said. Then we saw what happened on the 5.45pm news . An awful day. This disaster happened and the events at St. Andrews, Birmingham as well. Along with Heysel and the Luton v Millwall cup tie, 1984/85 was probably the worst season in English football history.

[@arthurfnshelby4335]

I remember watching this live on TV literally watching people die. It was horrific and I was stunned, shocked and in despair. It remained with me for a very long time after. R.I.P to al, those who lost their lives.

[@markburnham973]

This is a brilliant piece of work. It is really well presented and a great resource for teachers of IB. Thanks.

[@austinevplab7167]

Wow. I watched the news clip, it went up like the Hindenburg. Sickening to see the kids laughing, smiling and hamming it up for the cameras. I did not know this story, thanks for posting.