His tent was completely destroyed
17:00, 08 Jul 2025Updated 17:15, 08 Jul 2025
The charred remains of homeless man Dave’s tent after it was destroyed in a suspected arson(Image: Go Fund Me)
A Bristol man sleeping rough has lost all of his possessions after the tent he was living in was burned to ashes in an apparent arson attack. The man, known as Dave, lost everything including irreplaceable sentimental photos when his tent was burned down last month.
Fortunately, Dave was unharmed in the incident. He had been living in a tent near the Shallows in Saltford for the past few years after falling on tough times.
But on Sunday, June 22, he returned to his tent to discover it had been completely destroyed in an arson attack. Police are investigating, but a lack of CCTV in the area has hindered their efforts to catch the perpetrators.
The apparently deliberate attack on Dave’s tent is one of a string of probable arsons targeting homeless people around Bristol in recent months. In February, police and fire services were called to Clifton Downs in response to a caravan being set alight.
A blaze also broke out at a homeless encampment in Castle Park in September 2024. A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that fire was believed to have been started deliberately.
The troubling trend has emerged alongside a new census which reported hundreds more women could be sleeping rough in Bristol than official government figures suggest. Several parts of Bristol have been dealing with a worsening number of suspected arsons so far this year.
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Community leaders and local councillors in East Bristol called a public meeting at the end of June in response to an escalating number of fires in Fishponds, Oldbury Court and Frome Vale. Members of the public have banded together to raise money for Dave, and to draw attention to the callous crime in the hope those responsible will be brought to justice.
A Go Fund Me page set up in support of Dave has so far raised nearly £1,000. Fundraiser organiser Connie Allen said she had been encouraged by the generosity of the public, despite the horrible misfortune which had befallen Dave.
“Dave isn’t really the ‘imposing on you’ type and feels a bit embarrassed by very kind charitable donations,” she said. “The compassionate response from people has restored my faith in humanity somewhat.”
Ms Allen said Dave had helped her when she was going through tough times herself. “He’s just got a heart of gold,” Ms Allen said. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened to him.”
Anyone with information about the crime can report the issue to Avon and Somerset Police via their website.
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