Discarded Cigarette Blamed for Watermans Arts Centre Fire

Ground floor and roof of empty building damaged in blaze

Fire fighters examine the damage to the Watermans Arts Centre. Picture: Guy Lambert

June 7, 2024

An investigation by London Fire brigade has concluded that the fire at the Watermans Arts Centre this Wednesday morning was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette.

Investigators found that the fire initially took hold outside the building and it is believed that accumulated rubbish piled up by a door contributed to the extent of the fire.

The Fire Brigade receive the first call about the incident on High Street Brentford at 6.13am and had the incident under control just over two hours later.

Crews from Chiswick, Heston and Acton fire stations attended the scene.

The ground floor and roof of the two-storey building were partially damaged. According to a spokesperson for the centre the blaze has badly hit the venue’s smallest studio space. Water damage from fire hoses has also affected the restaurant area below. There was nobody inside the building when the fire started and there are no reports of any injuries.

The venue has been empty since it closed to the public on 11 April and it is thought likely that the damage will be a major setback to local groups hoping to take the building over for a ‘meanwhile use’ until a promised new arts centre opens nearby on Half Acre.

The Watermans Community Works (WCW) group, which has emerged from the Save Our Watermans campaign and is made up of local people from the arts and business sector ready to submit a fully costed bid for use of the centre, called for urgent action.

Steve Sargeant of the WCW said, “The fire at 40 High Street is a concerning event. Our understanding from the authorities is that it was due to a cigarette but thrown into the back door where rubbish had been piled up.

“We believe this incident only highlights the need for London Borough of Hounslow to take immediate action to secure the safe operation of this vital community asset. The closure of Watermans Arts Centre was a devastating blow to Brentford. The loss of the site without any chance for reanimation would be wholly unforgivable”.

Damage to the roof at the Watermans Arts Centre. Picture: WCW/Facebook

Ruby Almeida from WCW added, “The Council need to make their plans for meanwhile-use clear as a matter of urgency if Brentford is to hold on to a critical community resource. Our ongoing conversations with the public, through our surveys, show that people are furious that the centre ever shut without consultation or warning. Cllr Tom Bruce had promised a few days ago that the Council would be making a statement about the process for those bids. I expect Cllr Bruce to not delay any further with a statement about their commitment to the Centre.”

Damage to the interior the building. Picture: Guy Lambert

Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said, “LFB have completed their investigation and confirmed the fire is being treated as accidental, believed to have been caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials outside the building which then spread inside.

“We will now start to assess the degree of damage to the building and the next steps. We are also liaising with the Hounslow Arts Trust, who are currently based in the building, to understand the impact on them.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said, "If you smoke it is vitally important you stub it right out, preferably in an ashtray.

"Always ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire as you don’t know what it may land on which could potentially start a fire."