One of Bristol's leading visitor attractions has said it expects to be 'closed for months' following a fire which badly damaged the roof.
And bosses at We The Curious, the interactive science and technology attraction near the Harbourside, said investigations have concluded the blaze was started by birds who damaged the solar panels on the roof, sparking an electrical fault that set the panels, and then the roof, on fire.
The fire happened on Saturday, April 9, and all staff, visitors and even a wedding party that were gathering for a ceremony there, were evacuated safely.
As it happened: Huge fire at We The Curious
Initially the venue said it would closed 'for a few weeks', but the extent of the damage caused by the fire - and by the firefighters' efforts to put it out - is now beginning to be understood. And We The Curious said they now know it will be a lot longer before they are able to open again.
"The evidence indicates that damage to the photovoltaic solar panels was most likely caused by birds, which caused a fault in the electrical system. This then resulted in a fire spreading to the roof," said a spokesperson for We The Curious.
"Our team of contractors has been assessing the damage; we’ve sustained some significant fire and water damage to the roof, our second floor and our building systems. It’s all a little more complex than we first thought, especially as water is still finding its way through the building, so those assessment surveys are still taking place. We don’t currently have a reopening date yet, but we know we’ll be closed for a few months.
"Once the survey results are in, we’ll have a clearer idea of the timeline and when we’ll be able to reopen," they added.
But the team at We The Curious won't have their feet up while they wait for the building at Millennium Square to be repaired and reopened. They intend to do what they can to create the We The Curious experience in a series of pop up exhibitions, interactions and events around the city.
"While we’re working out what we need to do to get our much-loved venue reopen, we’re going to be on the move!" said a spokesperson. "We’ll be popping up around the city, you’ll see some of our staff running activities around Millennium and Anchor Square over the next few weekends and May Half term.
"As soon as we have any updates about reopening, we’ll post updates here on our website and social media channels," they said.
The team at the interactive science museum have also thanked people who have supported them. The museum, which is an educational charity, was closed during the pandemic for more than a year, and they began a fundraising campaign to keep going.
"We’re so grateful for the incredible response to our appeal: we have so far received £50,556 in donations from our friends and supporters. If you have donated or shared: thank you!" a spokesperson said. "Despite closure, we’re passionately committed to turn this crisis into new opportunities for communities and schoolchildren across the city.
"You might know that we were closed for over a year during the pandemic, which hit us pretty hard financially. We were still in our first year of reopening and recovery when the fire happened. In addition, we’ve all seen how the pandemic has worsened educational and social inequality for children and young people. This need and our commitment to supporting them is not on pause just because our venue is temporarily closed.
"We’re working closely with local community groups and schools around how we can meet their needs now - from ‘playing out’ learning activities across the city to school roadshows - and once we’re reopened. Your support can make this happen and help us to build back stronger for everyone. If you’d like to get involved, please donate here.
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