Fire at derelict hospital site

Details

Friday, 28 June 2013 02:10

Barrow Hospital, Wild Country Lane, Barrow Gurney

Police alerted the fire service to a blaze in a derelict building at the former Barrow Hospital site just south of Bristol.

A police officer in the area had seen a glow which appeared to be a large fire, and the force helicopter then confirmed the incident.

A total of eight fire engines attended, from Bedminster, Brislington,  Avonmouth, Temple and Speewell Fire Stations.

They found the first floor of a derelict former ward building, which measured 10 metres by 35 metres, well alight.

Due to the derelict nature of the building, and the potential of there being asbestos on the ground floor, crews adopted a defensive mode, which means they did not send anyone into the building, but dealt with it from outside.

Two high pressure hose reels were used.

Crews had to organise a water relay, using trucks in a shuttle run to a hydrant some distance away in order to provide the water they needed to put out the fire.

It caused considerable damage to the first floor and roof of the building.

Low risk white asbestos on the ground floor was not affected by the fire.

The incident lasted more than four-and-a-half hours, and some firefighters remained at the site after to continue damping down.

The fire is thought to have been started deliberately.