Tesco Arson Evacuation
Glastonbury Tesco Evacuated After Deliberate Arson Fire Destroys Nearby Caravans
Key Points
The fire was reported to emergency services at about 8:07pm, when two appliances from Glastonbury and Street were initially mobilised to “multiple calls reporting a caravan on fire at Tesco supermarket, Wirral Park Road in Glastonbury.”
While en route, crews requested additional help after seeing “a large plume of smoke,” including a third appliance from Wells; they then added two more appliances from Somerton and Shepton Mallet, plus an aerial ladder platform from Bridgwater once they confirmed the caravans were close to the shop.
Tesco’s store damage assessment was more specific than “limited external fire damage”: the Express reported the supermarket sustained “10 per cent external fire damage only,” while “two caravans were completely destroyed.”
Firefighting and smoke-clearing methods went beyond basic suppression: the Express said crews used “fogging spikes (which penetrate walls with voids),” “thermal imaging cameras” to check for spread and hotspots, and “positive pressure ventilation fans” to clear smoke in order to reopen safely.
Tesco’s Facebook updates included exact reopening times: “9.30am for browsing” and “10am for purchasing” on the next day.
A deliberate arson fire tore through two caravans parked next to Tesco's Glastonbury store on Saturday night, forcing staff to evacuate the supermarket and bringing six fire crews to the scene. BBC reported the blaze broke out at 8:07pm on Wirral Park Road, with the fire service saying it was "believed to have been started deliberately." No one was injured, and the store reopened the following morning.
Both caravans were completely destroyed. The Tesco building itself suffered "10 per cent external fire damage only," according to The Express. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by around 10:40pm after more than two hours of work.
Six Crews Scrambled After Smoke Seen From Miles Away
The first two fire engines came from Glastonbury and Street. While driving to the scene, crews spotted a large plume of black smoke and immediately called for backup. A third engine arrived from Wells. BBC reported that when crews confirmed the caravans were close to the store, they added two more engines from Somerton and Shepton Mallet, plus an aerial ladder platform from Bridgwater.
At its peak, five fire engines were working the blaze alongside the aerial platform. The fire service flagged a "high risk of spread" to the main supermarket building. Tesco management began a full evacuation of customers and staff as smoke started to enter the store.
Fogging Spikes and Thermal Cameras Used to Save the Store
Crews used specialist tools to stop the fire from spreading into the building's walls. The Express reported that firefighters drove "fogging spikes" into wall cavities — these are tools that punch through surfaces to spray water into hidden spaces where flames can travel unseen. Thermal imaging cameras helped crews find hotspots and check for hidden spread.
Once the fire was out, crews ran positive pressure ventilation fans through the building overnight to clear the smoke. This allowed Tesco to safely reopen. The store confirmed via Facebook that it would open at 9:30am for browsing and at 10:00am for purchasing the following morning.
Arson Investigation Handed to Police as Caravans Debate Simmers
The scene was handed over to Avon and Somerset Police for a forensic arson investigation. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage from the Wirral Park Road area, according to the Somerset County Gazette. No suspects have been named publicly. The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service officially classified the cause as suspected arson.
The fire adds to a pattern of caravan-related incidents in Glastonbury. A suspicious caravan fire struck Manor House Road in May 2025. A "burning spree" targeting portable toilets in late 2025 led to arson arrests. Glastonbury is estimated to have over 300 van dwellers living in roughly 140 vehicles, a situation that has driven sharp divisions in the local community, according to The Sun.
Store Back Open Within 14 Hours, Caravan Occupants Left Homeless
Tesco posted on Facebook shortly after 9pm Saturday telling customers to "avoid Tesco Glastonbury for the time being." By Sunday morning the store was trading again. The rapid turnaround was made possible by the overnight ventilation work carried out by fire crews, The Business Times noted.
The two caravans were total losses. Their occupants have not been publicly identified. Local charities are bracing for a possible crackdown on roadside parking following the fire. Zero injuries were reported among shoppers, staff, or firefighters throughout the entire incident.
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