Three teenagers arrested after Portsmouth boatyard fire

Three teenagers have been arrested following a fire that engulfed five boats at a boatyard in Tipner, Portsmouth, on the UK south coast.

The blaze, which broke out at Tipner Boat Yard on Tuesday (22 April 2025) at about 4pm, caused plumes of smoke to be visible across the city and led to more than 40 calls to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said all three teenagers were from Portsmouth. A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and assaulting an emergency worker, while two girls, aged 13 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of arson.

A police spokesperson said: “Three arrests have been made following a suspected arson incident in Portsmouth. Police were called just before 4pm on 22 April to a report of a fire at Tipner Boat Yard. A 13-year-old boy from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of arson and assault of an emergency worker. He remains in custody. A 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl, both from Portsmouth, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have been released on bail until 23 July while further enquiries continue.

The fire destroyed five boats and a storage container at the yard on Tipner Lane, just off the M275. Firefighters from Southsea, Cosham and Portchester attended, using four jets, two hose reel jets, an ultra-high-pressure lance, and foam to tackle the blaze. Crews extinguished the fire and returned to their stations at around 9pm.

Due to the amount of smoke, nearby residents were advised to close doors and windows, and the public was asked to avoid the area while the incident was ongoing. There have been no reports of any injuries.

Fire investigation officers returned to the site last week to establish the cause of the blaze, with crews damping down several hotspots.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 44250174906.