Nightclub fire Police appeal in blaze probe
POLICE are now investigating the fire that ripped through Bristol’s iconic SWX nightclub, which is believed to have been started deliberately.
The blaze was reported around 4.30am on Tuesday, with crews from nine different fire stations across the city attending Nelson Street to try to control the flames.
Videos from the day showed smoke billowing over Bristol as the fire continued to burn at the nightclub on Nelson Street.
The service confirmed on Twitter that investigations had now finished and a police investigation has been launched.
The tweet said: “Our fire investigations have now concluded and the cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate ignition.”
The fire has left the owners and staff of the nightclub “devastated”, with a statement on the venue’s social media accounts thanking the fire services and police for their work.
Its owner, Dominic Madden, has also spoken of his sadness at the venue being hit by the fire just days before its re-opening following months of closure, but still said that
“the show will go on”.
He said: “It saddens me and all our loyal music fans that just a matter of days before the full reopening a fire has delayed the much-anticipated return to live music and club events.
“If it was not for the heroic efforts of the Avon Fire & Rescue Service with the support of Avon & Somerset Police the damage would have
been much worse and I would like to thank them all for their help.
“The management team and I at the iconic SWX will spend the next 48 hours assessing the damage and then begin to plan for when the doors can finally reopen – the show will go on!”
Avon and Somerset Police issued a statement confirming the building was being examined by crime
scene investigators and calling on anyone who may have any information to come forward.
The statement said: “At 4.35am [on Tuesday] morning we responded to a large fire at a building on Nelson Street, Bristol.
“Road closures were put in place around the area while the fire service extinguished the fire.
“The fire service has reported the
cause is thought to be deliberate ignition and we will now carry out an investigation into the incident.
“Specialist crime scene investigators will examine the building while CCTV footage from the area will be reviewed.
“Anyone with information which could help us is asked to call 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5221 157 462.”