Church fire Police investigate blaze confirmed as arson attack
ALARGE blaze at a Bristol church is being treated as an arson attack. An office and store room at St Luke’s Church in Barton Hill was found to be on fire by patrolling police officers at approximately 11.30pm on Monday.
Queen Ann Road was closed between Maze Street and Barton
Hill Road while fire crews extinguished the blaze.
Fire crews took around two and a half hours to put out the blaze, and the area was cordoned off as police carried out investigations into the cause of the fire.
Avon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service reported five crews from Temple, Hicksgate and Kingswood attended the fire.
Now, Avon and Somerset Constabulary have revealed a dog was used to examine the scene and indicated use of an accelerant.
St Luke’s Church confirmed nobody was injured in the fire.
A post from the church on Facebook reads: “Please hold St Luke’s and the community in your prayers if you could. As you may have seen on the news, we have had a fire. Grateful no body was hurt.
“Thankfully the fire was spotted and the prompt response of the emergency services stopped it from spreading to the main church area, we truly thank them.”
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “The fire is being treated as deliberate and enquiries are ongoing. Investigators have finished examining the scene and the cordon has been lifted and officers are no longer there.
“We continue to appeal for witnesses or information and ask anyone who can help to call 101 quoting reference 5220209277.”