Bristol fire: Police arrest man, 45, over boat yard fire - and issue update

Police investigating a major fire at an historic boat yard on Bristol’s Harbourside have arrested a man on suspicion of arson. The blaze at Underfall Yard ‘destroyed the heart of the yard’, according to the charity which runs it.

Emergency services were called to blaze at 12.05am yesterday morning (May 6). They discovered the yard - which also has a museum and cafe - well alight and around 20 people were evacuated from nearby homes.

The Underfall Yard Trust has said businesses and people’s boats at the site have been ruined as a result of the blaze.

Tonight, Avon and Somerset Police issued an update in which they said the fire was being treated as a suspicious incident. The force added that a 45-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of arson.

A force statement read: “A man has been arrested after a fire at a boat yard in Bristol. We were called to the site, near Cumberland Road, at about 12.05am yesterday morning (Saturday 6 May) to support Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

“We have since worked with fire investigators in an effort to determine what happened and it is being treated as a suspicious incident. A 45-year-old man has been arrested in connection with our enquiries and is currently in police custody.”

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and say they should call 101 and quote reference number 5223105176. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.