Community · Bristol
Environment Agency confirms firewater run-off caused Brislington Brook wildlife deaths
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Official testing has linked the destruction of wildlife in Brislington Brook to chemical run-off from an industrial site fire, contradicting earlier claims by the fire service.
An environmental catastrophe in South Bristol has been officially linked to firewater run-off from a large blaze at an industrial estate, the Environment Agency has confirmed. The incident, which occurred on 1 September, resulted in the death of fish and eels in Brislington Brook, effectively leaving a nearby wooded valley devoid of wildlife.
For weeks following the fire, which required 16 crews to bring under control, uncertainty surrounded the cause of the pollution. Local volunteers from the Friends of Brislington Brook reported a total loss of aquatic life and observed foul smells and foam in the water shortly after the blaze. While Avon Fire and Rescue Service previously denied using firefighting foam and played down links between their operations and the pollution, the Environment Agency has now stated that chemicals from the firewater did indeed enter the brook.
“Sampling confirmed that chemicals from the firewater runoff entered the brook and spread downstream,” an Environment Agency spokesperson said. The agency noted that firewater incidents are complex and involve multiple pollutants, stating that the death of the eels and fish likely resulted from a combination of chemicals and changing pollution levels throughout the event.
Jackie Friel, acting chair of the Friends of Brislington Brook, described the situation as devastating for the local community. “The woods and the valley are a very different place now, there is no wildlife to be found there,” she said. “The eels were yellow eels who had lived there for years and were almost ready to return to their spawning grounds. All the fish have gone and we do not know if or when anything will be able to come back.”
The group has expressed significant frustration regarding the management of the incident, citing the environmental impact on Nightingale Valley and St Anne’s Wood. Volunteers are currently waiting for Bristol City Council to conduct safety testing on the water, which remains necessary before the brook can be considered safe for public access, including for dog walkers and children.
The Environment Agency confirmed that investigations into the circumstances of the fire and the subsequent contamination of the watercourse are ongoing. Avon Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for further comment following the Environment Agency’s findings, having previously maintained that they took appropriate steps to contain run-off and prevent the spread of contaminants during the emergency.
Source: Bristol Post · View original