'To see it like this is terrible' Neighbours tell of shock as arson probe continues

POLICE and fire forensic teams including a fire investigation dog brought in from 80 miles away spent yesterday afternoon scouring the scene of Monday night's serious fire in East Bristol, as neighbours told of their shock at the dramatic scene which has left two men fighting for their lives in hospital.

- Tristan CORK

Police and fire forensic investigators at the scene of the fire yesterday afternoon

(Paul Gillis)

One neighbour said he feared for his grandson, who lives next door to the scene of the blaze in St George, and another said she was shocked at the scale of the explosion and fire, which shook the neighbourhood at around 10.20pm on Monday evening.

Two men remain in a critical condition in hospital, while another man, who was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Tuesday morning, remained in police custody yesterday.

The fire took hold in a caravan parked in a backyard on Marling Road, at the rear of a building that fronts onto Bell Hill Road, the A420 between Bristol and Kingswood. It quickly spread to the building the caravan was parked behind.

Someone spotted the smoke coming from the building and alerted fire crews at 10.25pm. Two men inside were seriously injured and police said they were in a critical condition.