‘Deliberate’ fire at empty flats block is third in two years

A FIRE broke out at an empty tower block in Speedwell just 14 months after a huge blaze gutted the building.

Firefighters were called to a ground floor fire at the Strachan and Henshaw building in Foundry Lane at 2.15am on Thursday.

The cause is thought to be deliberate.

It is the third time in two years fire has occurred at the tower block; the first on New Year’s Eve of 2018 and another in May last year.

The fire on New Year’s Eve was serious, and caused an evacuation of the building and a major response by Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

But the building was gutted by a much bigger blaze on May 3, 2019, with homes evacuated for weeks and roads closed.

On Thursday’s fire, a spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue said: “Crews from Kingswood, Temple, Southmead, Bedminster, Hicks Gate and Avonmouth fire stations were mobilised to reports of a fire.

“On arrival firefighters found a fire on the ground floor of a void property.

“Crews extinguished the fire and remained on scene to check for hotspots.

“Police were also in attendance and the cause is thought to be deliberate.”

Detective Inspector Clement Goodwin from Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are keeping an open mind about the cause of this fire and we currently have fire investigators at the scene gathering evidence.

“If you saw or heard anything which may help our investigation, then please visit our website or call 101 and quote log 50 of July 9.”