Latest news with #AvonFireRescue
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Avonmouth M5 traffic affected by smoke from nearby fire
People driving on the motorway in rush hour have been met with large plumes of smoke from a fire near a Fire and Rescue Service is tackling a pile of rubbish that caught fire just off King Weston Lane in Avonmouth, Highways has placed slow signs along the M5 in the area as the smoke travels across the carriageway.A spokesperson for the fire service said there were no reports of any injuries and that crews expected to extinguish the fire by about 19:00 BST. They said they had found some gas cylinders in the area and were making sure they were two thirds of fire has been fire engine from Gloucester is also assisting with extra water.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Faulty solar panel blamed for maternity hospital fire
The fire service has blamed faulty solar panels for a blaze at a maternity hospital in Bristol. Pregnant women and babies were evacuated from St Michael's Hospital on Southwell Street in the city centre on Thursday afternoon. Footage shared on social media showed women cradling babies being escorted past fire engines and under police tape to buildings opposite as smoke billowed above the city. Avon Fire & Rescue Services' fire investigation team said the cause of the fire, which has now been extinguished, had been faulty solar panels. The roof of the hospital has one of Bristol city centre's largest solar panel installations, unveiled in 2014 and delivered in partnership with the council. Ian Fergusson , a BBC forecaster, shared a still image yesterday from a skycam showing the scorched remains of the hospital's rooftop solar panels. He said there was 'virtually nothing left of the rooftop solar panel array after this fire', adding: 'A very worrying and scary event for folks at the maternity hospital.' Matt Burden, from Weston-super-Mare, was inside the maternity unit when the fire started. He told the BBC that his wife was in labour with their third baby and he was 'really eager to get back' to her. He said: 'I went out to get some food, came back and obviously the alarm went off. They said all partners had to leave. Everyone was going down the fire exit quite fast.' A spokesman for Avon Fire & Rescue Services said on Friday: 'Following a fire in a hospital on Southwell Street, Bristol, yesterday evening (22 May 2025), Avon Fire & Rescue Services' Fire Investigation Team have established the cause of the fire to be accidental due to a fault in the solar panels, on the roof of the building. 'Firefighters safely extinguished the fire on the roof and no other part of the hospital was affected by the fire.' Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital managing director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Following a fire on the roof of St Michael's Hospital yesterday afternoon, we can confirm the hospital is open and services are running. 'A very small number of planned appointments have been rescheduled. Those affected by this have been contacted directly. If you have an appointment, please attend it unless you hear from us. The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including the delivery suite. 'Thank you to our amazing colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe.'
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
St Michael's Hospital blaze 'started in solar panels'
A blaze which forced the evacuation of pregnant women and babies from a maternity hospital began in solar panels on the roof, firefighters have confirmed. Emergency services rushed to Bristol's St Michael's Hospital shortly before 16:30 BST on Thursday, with flames and large plumes of smoke visible across the city. Despite the dramatic appearance of the fire, no injuries were reported and the hospital was able to reopen by 19:00. Hospital officials confirmed that while most services at St Michael's were operating on Friday, some appointments had to be rescheduled. An investigation into the cause of the blaze was opened on Thursday, with Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirming on Friday it originated in the solar team established the "cause of the fire to be accidental due to a fault in the solar panels", a spokesperson for the service said. "Firefighters safely extinguished the fire on the roof and no other part of the hospital was affected by the fire," they added. Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital's managing director, said a "very small number of planned appointments" had been rescheduled."Those affected by this have been contacted directly. If you have an appointment, please attend it unless you hear from us."The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including the delivery suite," he said."Thank you to our amazing colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe." Mothers-to-be and babies were moved outside of the building, supported by midwives who brought out milk and fruit. The fire was extinguished within an hour and the hospital reopened by 19:00 Hutchinson, 22, whose waters had broken, told the BBC at the time it was "scary" hearing the fire on the Badaki, who is 32-weeks pregnant, added: "It was very frightening, because everywhere was dark, the smoke was just all over the place. It was quite scary really."
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Firefighters called to blaze at Bristol maternity hospital
Firefighters have been called to a maternity hospital in Bristol after a blaze broke out. Emergency services were called to the scene at St Michael's hospital at about 4.30pm on Thursday. Pregnant women were removed from the site, according to reports, but the hospital had reopened by 7pm. The fire was extinguished within less than an hour, and the cause would be investigated, Avon fire and rescue service said. People have been urged to avoid the area. Avon fire and rescue service posted on Facebook saying: 'We're currently responding to a fire on Southwell Street, Bristol. We encourage people to avoid the area while we deal with the incident. Further updates will be issued.' The post was later updated to say: 'We can confirm that the fire has safely been extinguished. The cause of the fire will be investigated.' A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: 'Police are supporting Avon fire and rescue colleagues at the scene of a fire at St Michael's hospital in Bristol, which was reported at about 4.30pm on Thursday 22 May. 'St Michael's Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.' Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital managing director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS foundation trust, said: 'Following a fire incident at St Michael's hospital this afternoon, we can confirm that the fire has safely been extinguished. 'Thank you to our amazing staff who worked closely with the fire service to partially evacuate the hospital. The hospital, including the delivery suite, has now reopened to women who need to access our services and people with appointments tomorrow should attend as planned.'
Sky News
22-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
'Pregnant women and babies evacuated' after fire at Bristol maternity hospital
Pregnant women and babies were reportedly evacuated from a Bristol city centre maternity hospital following a fire on the roof of the building. Black smoke was seen billowing from St Michael's Hospital after the blaze broke out at around 4:30pm today. Footage shared on social media showed flames on the roof of the building on Southwell Street. Pregnant women and babies had to evacuate the hospital as firefighters tackled the blaze, the BBC reported. Avon Fire and Rescue confirmed it had responded to a fire on Southwell Street in Bristol and encouraged members of the pubic to "avoid the area while we deal with the incident". The fire service confirmed at around 5:25pm that the fire had been "safely extinguished" and its cause "will be investigated". Avon and Somerset Police had confirmed its officers were supporting firefighters at the scene. The force urged people to avoid the area "if at all possible".
