A suspected arson attack has caused significant damage to an office building housing Cheltenham-based clothing company HERA Clothing. The fire broke out on the Kingsditch Trading Estate on Tuesday, 15 September, at approximately 9pm, when bins outside the premises were deliberately set alight.
The blaze resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage, with windows and doors blown out by the flames. The affected parts of the building have since been boarded up, allowing staff to re-enter and resume work.
One of the co-founders of HERA Clothing, established in 2015, described the incident as “devastating for a local business.” She expressed relief that the business could continue operating during what is traditionally their busiest season, but noted the unsettling nature of the attack.
“It’s quite terrifying to think someone would do this, especially as it appears to be a random act. We don’t know the motive, which raises concerns,” she said. “Despite this, we are determined to remain resilient and not be intimidated.”
The suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large. However, CCTV footage capturing the individual’s movements before and after the fire has been handed over to police. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service responded promptly, arriving within ten minutes to deal with the blaze.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service provided details of the response: “We were alerted at 9.20pm and dispatched two fire engines from Cheltenham East and Cheltenham West. The fire was confined to a wheelie bin, which was completely damaged. The adjacent commercial building suffered approximately five per cent fire damage. Crews used two hose reels and four sets of breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire, which was declared out at 10.51pm.”
Gloucestershire Police are continuing their investigation into the incident. No further details have been released at this time.