Latest news with #AvonFireandRescue
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Fire engine gets stuck behind LTN bollard
A fire engine crew found themselves stuck behind a low-traffic neighbourhood roadblock because they did not know the code to drop the bollard. The incident, which was captured on camera by a resident, saw fire crews struggling to navigate around the narrow terraced streets of the areas of Redfield and Barton Hill in Bristol. But both Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Bristol city council played down the issue, and fire chiefs said they wanted to reassure residents that they 'do not anticipate' that the controversial East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) traffic scheme will 'impact our average response times to emergency incidents'. They said firefighters are still in the process of 'familiarising themselves' with the new road layouts and access procedures to the area. The incident happened on Tuesday morning after firefighters left the scene of a bin-fire in a block of flats. The crew approached an EBLN 'modal filter' which contained planters wide enough apart to let emergency vehicles through – but the gap is blocked by a bollard which requires an access code to unlock and lower. The fire crew that attended the fire was pictured on Tuesday morning trying and failing to lower the bollard. A spokeswoman for Avon Fire and Rescue said: 'We'd like to reassure residents that from our initial findings we do not anticipate the new EBLN scheme will impact our average response times to emergency incidents. 'Following the launch of the new scheme, firefighters are familiarising themselves with the new road layouts and access procedures to the area.' She added: 'We continue to work closely with the council to ensure we have access to the area beyond the bollards, including access codes and use of the bus gate.' The EBLN scheme has effectively created a series of self-contained cul-de-sacs for motorists. Drivers are left with a network of smaller residential streets off main roads that are no longer connected to each other. Bristol city council played down the seriousness of the incident, after the photograph sparked a backlash on social media from opponents of the scheme. The council said the incident the fire crews were called to did not require first responders to drop any bollards to actually reach the scene – the incident with the bollard happened as fire crews were leaving the area to return to base – and claimed it had 'offered multiple meetings' with emergency services during various stages of the design of the scheme. Cllr Ed Plowden, chairman of Bristol's Transport and Connectivity Committee, said traffic congestion was 'one of the biggest' contributors to delays to emergency services getting to incidents. 'We have been in regular communication with Avon Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency services throughout the process of designing and implementing the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme,' said Cllr Plowden, a Green Party councillor. 'One of the biggest contributors to delays to our city's emergency services remains the issue of excess traffic, which the scheme aims to rectify. The emergency services have the ability to drop any bollards that may be blocking their path and are able to freely use the scheme's bus gates. 'We will continue to work closely with emergency services to ensure that they can carry out their vital work during the scheme's trial period and beyond.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Reckless' gang attack police and set fire to e-bike
A gang assaulted officers with a screwdriver and set fire to an e-bike in a "reckless" attack, police have said. While on foot patrol, two officers challenged a group of 10 men riding e-bikes along Bristol's waterfront and across Pero's Bridge on Thursday at about 22:30 GMT. Officers said the group became aggressive, hurled a screwdriver and threw accelerant on a bike, before setting it alight. Firefighters attended the scene to extinguish the "deliberate" fire at about 22:28 GMT. While attempting to detain one of the men, an officer had her wrist bent back. Chief Insp Keith Smith said the officers were engaging with members of the public when they saw this group "acting antisocially". "These actions were reckless and unacceptable and not only put our officers at risk, but also the wider public," he said. "Our investigation into the incident is ongoing and we want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard something, especially if anyone saw a group of this size in the area without their balaclavas on." Avon and Somerset Police said it understands this is a "concerning incident" and is increasing police presence and conducting high-visibility patrols in the area over the next few days. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol An Avon Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Crews from Temple attended and extinguished a fire involving one motorbike. "The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate." Officers are looking for witnesses and any footage of the incident. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Avon Fire and Rescue Service Avon and Somerset Police
BBC News
28-03-2025
- BBC News
'Reckless' Bristol gang attack police and set fire to e-bike
A gang assaulted officers with a screwdriver and set fire to an e-bike in a "reckless" attack, police have on foot patrol, two officers challenged a group of 10 men riding e-bikes along Bristol's waterfront and across Pero's Bridge on Thursday at about 22:30 said the group became aggressive, hurled a screwdriver and threw accelerant on a bike, before setting it attended the scene to extinguish the "deliberate" fire at about 22:28 GMT. 'Acting anti-socially' While attempting to detain one of the men, an officer had her wrist bent back. Chief Insp Keith Smith said the officers were engaging with members of the public when they saw this group "acting antisocially"."These actions were reckless and unacceptable and not only put our officers at risk, but also the wider public," he said."Our investigation into the incident is ongoing and we want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard something, especially if anyone saw a group of this size in the area without their balaclavas on."Avon and Somerset Police said it understands this is a "concerning incident" and is increasing police presence and conducting high-visibility patrols in the area over the next few days. An Avon Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Crews from Temple attended and extinguished a fire involving one motorbike."The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate."Officers are looking for witnesses and any footage of the incident.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Paint spraying workshop fire mostly extinguished
A large fire has been mostly extinguished after it broke out in a paint spraying workshop an industrial estate in Somerset. Crews from Avon Fire and Rescue and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFR) were tackling the blaze at Haydon Industrial Estate in Radstock, which started at about 15:20 GMT. Avon Fire and Rescue said a few members of the public were evacuated before they arrived on the scene, and some gas cylinders were removed for safety reasons. At its height, 24 firefighters were dealing with the fire, with a few remaining on Friday evening. A DSFR spokesperson said it sent five fire engines to the scene. A caller to BBC Radio Somerset, Faye in Dunkerton, said: "There was a lot of smoke. "It looks pretty horrendous, I hope everybody is OK." The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and investigations will take place over the weekend. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Avon Fire and Rescue Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue
