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Daily Record
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Two firefighters and a member of public die as 'explosions heard' at ex-RAF base
Three people have died, including two firefighters with two more seriously injured, after a fire broke out at an ex-RAF base. Two firefighters and a member of the public have died following a fire at a former RAF base. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Bicester Motion, a historic motoring and aviation centre situated on the former airbase, at around 6.39pm last night, sending ten crews to the scene of what they described as a "serious incident", reports the Mirror. The deaths of the three people have been confirmed, with two more firefighters having been seriously injured, after the blaze in Bicester, Oxfordshire County Council said. Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement: "Firefighters and Oxfordshire County Council colleagues are today mourning the loss of two firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty while dealing with a major incident in Bicester on the evening of Thursday, 15 May. "A member of the public also sadly died in the incident. Two further firefighters sustained serious injuries and are currently in hospital. "Ten fire crews attended the incident at Bicester Motion having been called to the scene at 18:39. Four crews remain at the scene with the fire now under control." Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall added: 'It is with a very heavy heart that we today report the loss of two of our firefighters. Families have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times and we ask for privacy to be respected. 'We cannot release any details at present but will provide further information as soon as we can.' The council said four crews remain at the scene as the blaze is now under control. Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives opposite Bicester Motion, said he heard "multiple bangs" and saw a plume of smoke while out walking. It is believed the fire started at a hangar on the site in northern Bicester, off the A4421 Buckingham Road. He told PA: "As we walked home and got closer to the smoke it seemed to get blacker and we heard the sirens. "Multiple fire engines and police cars went past us and as we got to the corner at the bottom of the road ash started to fall and you could see the sheer scale of what was happening. "Loud bangs have been constantly going off and multiple helicopters are still circling the site." The fire service said last night: "We would advise people to avoid the area, and for local residents to remain indoors and shut all windows until further notice." Dozens of businesses in Oxfordshire will remain closed all weekend following a major fire on the former RAF base yesterday. Before the deaths were confirmed, local councillor Sam Holland spoke about the fire at Bicester Motion - home to more than 50 specialist businesses focused on classic car restoration and engineering. "I saw it (the fire) from a distance," Mr Holland told PA. "There's lots of emergency vehicles. Bicester Motion were meeting there earlier. I had spoken to someone as they were leaving. I hope there is nobody hurt or worse." Historic England claim the iconic airfield is "the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase" in Britain. Bicester Motion previously said in a statement: "Further to the incident, emergency services have been called and are attending on-site. "We appreciate the concern from local residents and wish to communicate that the company is working with the emergency services. At their direction the site will be closed today and over the weekend. A further statement will be made as appropriate." Roads have reopened in and around Bicester following the fire. Oxfordshire County Council wrote on X: "Roads have now reopened, and advice to remain indoors has been lifted. However, people should avoid the area and expect traffic delays in Bicester this morning." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Two firefighters among 3 killed in horror blaze at former RAF base as explosions heard & smoke seen for miles
TWO firefighters were among three people who died in a horror blaze at a RAF base. Emergency services scrambled to the scene in Bicester Motion, Oxfordshire, yesterday evening. Ten fire crews desperately fought the blaze at the motoring and aviation heritage site since 6.30pm on Thursday. Now, it has tragically been revealed that two firefighters and a member of the public died in the inferno. Two other firefighters were left seriously injured after the shocking fire ripped through the RAF base, said Oxfordshire County Council. Locals were told to avoid the area and urged to remain indoors and close their windows "until further notice". One social media user posted a shocking image of plumes of dark smoke billowing from the site, claiming to have heard "multiple explosions". A resident who lives opposite Bicester Motion, Kieran McGurk, said he heard "multiple bangs" as he saw terrifying clouds of smoke erupt in the sky. He described: "As we walked home and got closer to the smoke it seemed to get blacker and we heard the sirens. "Multiple fire engines and police cars went past us and as we got to the corner at the bottom of the road ash started to fall and you could see the sheer scale of what was happening. "Loud bangs have been constantly going off and multiple helicopters are still circling the site." 2
Metro
16-05-2025
- General
- Metro
Explosions heard after fire tears through former RAF base
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Multiple helicopters circled a large fire at the site of a former RAF base in Oxfordshire yesterday evening, with witnesses reporting loud explosions and thick black smoke. More than ten fire and rescue crews tackled the blaze in Bicester, which prompted warnings for residents to stay indoors. Historic England claims the iconic airfield is 'the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase' in Britain. Kieran McGurk said he heard 'multiple bangs' and saw a plume of smoke while out walking. 'As we walked home and got closer to the smoke it seemed to get blacker and we heard the sirens,' he said. 'Multiple fire engines and police cars went past us and as we got to the corner at the bottom of the road ash started to fall and you could see the sheer scale of what was happening. 'Loud bangs have been constantly going off and multiple helicopters are still circling the site.' Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We would advise people to avoid the area, and for local residents to remain indoors and shut all windows until further notice.' A South Central Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 18.57 yesterday evening to reports of a serious incident at Bicester Motion. 'We sent a robust command structure to support staff and are currently on scene as the incident is ongoing.' Local councillor Sam Holland said the blaze is at Bicester Motion, a historic motoring and aviation centre situated on the former airbase. It is home to more than 50 specialist businesses focused on classic car restoration and engineering. 'I saw it (the fire) from a distance,' Mr Holland told the PA news agency. 'There's lots of emergency vehicles. More Trending 'Bicester Motion were meeting there earlier. I had spoken to someone as they were leaving. I hope there is nobody hurt or worse.' Bicester Motion said in a statement that the site would remain closed over the weekend. Nearby roads have also been affected. Buckingham Road, Skimmingdish Lane, the A4421 and the A4095 were all closed until further notice, with likely 'delays and disruption to journeys in and around Bicester'. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Huge fire at block of flats in east London with woman and baby treated at scene MORE: Keir Starmer house fire: Man, 21, arrested over series of 'arson attacks' MORE: 'Extreme risk' of wildfires across Scotland as crews tackle 10-acre blaze
