Appeal for information after multiple vehicles set on fire across north Bristol

Photo of two fire-damaged vehicles.
Two fire-damaged vehicles in Gatcombe Drive, Stoke Gifford.

The police and fire services are investigating after more than 20 vehicles were deliberately set on fire overnight in the Stokes and Patchway areas.

The first call came in at around 1.30am on Sunday 3rd April 2022, reporting a vehicle fire in New Road, Stoke Gifford, close to the entrance to the Travis Perkins depot.

At about 3.45am more vehicles were on fire in a car park at the Rolls-Royce site in Patchway. Around 20 vehicles there were damaged as the fire spread, many of these being minibuses belonging to Four Towns and Vale Community Transport.

Photo of several fire-damaged minibuses.
Fire-damaged minibuses in a car park within the Rolls-Royce site, Patchway.

By 5.30am there had been further reports, with up to 20 vehicles set alight in locations across Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Patchway.

Photos posted on social media show burnt-out vehicles in the car park at Little Stoke Park and in the car park at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke.

Photo of a fire-damaged pick-up truck.
One of two council-owned vehicles damaged in the car park at Little Stoke Park.

Commenting on the Journal’s Facebook page, Cllr Ernie Brown, chair of Stoke Gifford Parish Council, put the estimated cost of damage to two of the council’s vehicles at “£70k-80k”.

Phot0 of two fire-damaged vehicles.
Two fire-damaged vehicles in the car park at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke.

Speaking to the BBC about two council-owned vehicles damaged at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke mayor Tom Aditya described the attack as “appalling and shameful” and he called on police to “deploy a special dedicated team to identify the culprit”.

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Residents may have heard some of the vehicles’ fuel tanks exploding. Thankfully there have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said:

“Officers are working closely with the fire and rescue service to respond to these incidents. Officers will be carrying out house-to-house enquiries and making a thorough investigation alongside Avon Fire & Rescue Service.”

The spokesperson added:

“At this early stage the damage is making it difficult to identify vehicles in order to notify the owners.”

Police appeal

The police would like to hear from anyone who finds their own vehicle has been damaged, as well as anyone with information or dashcam, CCTV or other footage which could help their enquiries.

Please call 101 and give the log number 124 of Sunday 3rd April. Alternatively, you can information 100 percent anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Further details of incidents

Two vehicles were set alight in Gatcombe Drive, Stoke Gifford and another close by in Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford.

BBC digital editor Chris Kelly has posted images of two burnt-out vehicles in Gatcombe Drive, Stoke Gifford and another two in the car park of Little Stoke Park, Little Stoke Lane, Stoke Gifford. The latter two are believed to belong to Stoke Gifford Parish Council.

Chris Kelly has also posted images of two burnt-out vehicles in the car park of the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke. These two are believed to belong to Bradley Stoke Town Council.

Footage of the blaze at New Road, Stoke Gifford:

Footage of the blaze at Rolls-Royce:

Report on BBC News:

Aside from the two vehicles at the Jubilee Centre, there is a third burnt-out vehicle in Bradley Stoke, in Sherbourne Avenue.

Photo of a burnt-out car.
A burnt-out car in Sherbourne Avenue, Bradley Stoke.

More photos:

Follow-on articles

Media coverage

Reactions

Fire service reports

UPDATE added 4th April 2022.

Incident reports issued this morning by Avon Fire & Rescue.

A total of 29 vehicles are reported to have been damaged.

The time shown for an incident is the time of the first call to the fire service.

Crews called to van fire

Stoke Gifford @ 1.09am
[The New Road incident]

Firefighters from Southmead and Patchway were called to reports of a van fire.

On arrival firefighters found one van well alight.

Crews used one high pressure hose reel, small gear, lighting and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the blaze. One firefighter wore breathing apparatus for safety.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

Firefighters called to car fires

Stoke Gifford @1.33am
[The Gatcombe Drive incident]

Firefighters from Temple were on their return to station from a previous incident when they found two cars alight.

Crews used two high pressure hose reels and small gear to extinguish the blaze, two firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety.

The cause of both car fires is thought to be deliberate.

Firefighters called to car fire

Stoke Gifford @ 1.47am
[The Sandringham Road incident]

Firefighters from Temple were called to reports of a car fire.

On arrival crews found one car well alight

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus for safety used one high pressure hose reel and small tools to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

Stoke Gifford and Little Stoke A-Z directory of trades and services.

Firefighters extinguish vehicle fires

Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke @ 2.30am
[The Jubilee Centre incident]

Firefighters from Temple were called to reports of a vehicle fire.

On arrival, crews found one van and one car well alight.

Three firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two high pressure hose reels, hydraulic spreaders and small gear to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

Firefighters called to vehicle fire

Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke @ 3.09am
[Assumed to be the Little Stoke Park incident]

Firefighters from Temple and Southmead were called to reports of a car fire.

On arrival firefighters found two vehicles well alight.

Crews used two high pressure hose reels and small gear to extinguish the blaze. Two firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

Crews called to multiple car fires

Gipsy Patch Lane, Patchway @ 3.42am
[Assumed to be the Rolls-Royce incident]

Firefighters from Temple, Southmead, Avonmouth, Patchway, Portishead, Kingswood and Hicks Gate fire stations were called to reports of multiple cars alight in a car park.

On arrival, crews found a fire involving 20 vehicles with various amounts of damage.

Firefighters used three high pressure hose reels, one 45mm jet, four dry powder extinguishers, battery spreaders, small gear and foam to extinguish the blaze. Six firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety.

The Services’ drone was also mobilised to the scene to support Avon and Somerset Police with investigations at the scene.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

Crews called to car fire

Bradley Stoke @ 4.20am
[The Sherbourne Avenue incident]

Firefighters from Bedminster were called to reports of a car fire.

On arrival crews found one car well alight.

Firefighters used one high pressure hose reel, lighting and small gear to extinguish the blaze. One firefighter wore breathing apparatus for safety.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

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Parish council reaction

UPDATE added 6th April 2022.

Statement on the Stoke Gifford Parish Council website:

Stoke Gifford Parish Council are currently working with police to help with the attack on motor vehicles in the local area including Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Rolls-Royce.

Two of Stoke Gifford Parish Council’s work vehicles have been burnt out, leaving the ground staff with no vehicles. Please bear with us as we recover from this attack. Litter bins collections and ground maintenance will be disrupted during this interim period.

If you have any footage or information relating to the incident on Sunday 3rd April 2022 at approx. 3.00am, please contact the police on 101.

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