A major fire broke out at Bicester Motion, a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, on Thursday evening, with witnesses reporting multiple explosions and large plumes of smoke visible for miles.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at the motoring and aviation heritage site as an inferno engulfed the area.
Dramatic images shared on social media showed dark smoke billowing from the site, with one user claiming to have heard “multiple explosions”.
The former airfield, previously known as Bicester Heritage, is home to over 50 specialist businesses focusing on classic car restoration and engineering.
Historic England describes the iconic site as “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in the country.
Local residents reported seeing clouds of smoke fill the sky as the blaze took hold at the historic location.
Around 10 fire crews have been battling the blaze at Bicester Motion since approximately 6:30pm on Thursday evening.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: “10 fire and rescue crews are currently attending an ongoing serious incident at Bicester Motion from 18:39 this evening.”
The emergency services have urged locals to avoid the area completely.
Residents have also been advised to “remain indoors and shut all windows until further notice” as the serious incident continues to unfold.
A South Central Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called at 18.57 this 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.”
The scale of the emergency response highlights the severity of the situation at the heritage site.
Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives opposite Bicester Motion, provided a firsthand account of the unfolding disaster.
“As we walked home and got closer to the smoke it seemed to get blacker and we heard the sirens,” he said.
McGurk described how emergency vehicles rushed past as they approached the area.
“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,” he recounted.
The situation continued to deteriorate as he observed the scene.
“Loud bangs have been constantly going off and multiple helicopters are still circling the site,” McGurk added, highlighting the ongoing nature of the incident.
The falling ash and continuous explosions painted a concerning picture of the fire’s intensity and potential danger to surrounding areas.
Molly Pipe told the BBC that the smoke could be smelt “from perhaps half a mile away,” indicating the significant reach of the fire’s effects.
Local councillor Sam Holland reported seeing the blaze “from a distance” and noted the substantial emergency response.
“There’s lots of emergency vehicles,” Holland said.
The councillor added concerning details about the timing of the incident: “Bicester Motion were meeting there earlier. I had spoken to someone as they were leaving. I hope there is nobody hurt or worse.”
These observations from multiple witnesses across different locations around Bicester highlight the scale of the fire that has engulfed the heritage site.
As ash fell in nearby areas and the distinctive smell of smoke spread through the community, concern grew among local residents about potential casualties and damage to the historic facility.
A Bicester Motion spokesperson acknowledged the incident 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 and a further statement will be made as appropriate.”
The statement offered limited details as the situation continued to develop through Thursday evening.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reiterated their advice for people to avoid the area completely while they dealt with what they described as an “ongoing serious incident.”
The heritage site, which has become a hub for classic motoring enthusiasts and businesses, now faces significant damage as emergency services work to bring the situation under control.
As night fell over Oxfordshire, the glow of the fire and continued presence of emergency vehicles indicated the serious nature of the incident was far from resolved.
