THE fire that destroyed the former Treetops nursing home in Keynsham was started deliberately, police have revealed.
Fire crews spent several hours fighting the blaze, during which surrounding roads were closed and the neighbouring Keynsham Health Centre had to be evacuated.
Avon and Police said: “An arson investigation is underway following a fire in a derelict building in St Clements Road, in Keynsham, on Thursday 21 May.
“We were called at around 1.15pm by our colleagues at Avon Fire and Rescue Service to support them with road closure while they worked to extinguish the fire.
“Following a fire investigation, it was established the cause of the fire was deliberate ignition.
“Enquiries are ongoing and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious. If you can help, please call 101 and quote reference 5226139696.”
A total of 12 fire engines were involved in fighting the blaze at one stage. They used water from the River Chew pumped through a hosepipe that trailed up Dapps Hill to the site of the fire.
A nearby resident, Keith, told the Voice: “I was in the kitchen just about to prepare something for lunch, and I looked through the window and saw the smoke.
“My window was open, so I could smell smoke creeping in. So I then went out to see what was going on. But the police and fire crews were just telling everybody to go back inside and close all your doors and windows.”
Most of the fire had been put out by 5.15pm. Crews stayed at the scene until the late evening to check for any remaining hotspots with thermal imaging cameras to rule out any chance of reignition.
Avon and Somerset Police helped to control traffic in the area and keep the scene safe.
Roads that had been closed during the incident were later reopened. The health centre reopened the following day.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “Thankfully there were no casualties.
“We’d like to thank local people for their patience and support while we dealt with the fire.”
The former nursing home became derelict after closing in 2018. It became a target for anti-social behaviour, including criminal damage and numerous fires.
After repeated attempts to redevelop the site, outline planning permission to build 36 flats there was finally granted to Horizon Developments in March 2025.
But the property continued to lie empty and concerns were raised about safety at the site.
In January this year, the Voice reported how an urban explorer exposed the dangerous and dilapidated state of the building.
His video footage revealed smashed windows, damaged doors and floors littered with broken glass and other debris. There was evidence of fires being lit.
Fixtures and fittings had been torn out, electric sockets smashed, wiring exposed and large holes knocked through walls.
Walls were covered in mould and graffiti. Some doors and windows had been boarded up but not all.
The urban explorer, who posted the footage under the name of 2K Abandoned Places, said the damage was much more severe than when he previously visited in 2023-24.
He said: “This needs a health and safety. Someone has been ripping this to shreds.
“The kids are coming here with nothing better else to do. It’s ready to collapse.”
He said the building needed to be fully boarded-up or demolished before someone was injured.
Local police told the Voice at the time that they were concerned about the safety of people accessing the unsafe site. They said they were in ongoing contact with the building’s owners to discuss improving security measures to prevent further access.
In April this year, Horizon Developments applied to B&NES Council to seek a “minor variation” to the approved plans to reflect detailed design development.
One resident who commented in support of the plan said: “Can we get this site moving forward.”
They added: “Antisocial behaviour from kids on site goes on all night.”
The proposed flats development is still listed on the Horizon Homes website as ‘coming soon.’ The Voice has approached Horizon Homes for comment.
