A significant fire broke out Thursday evening at Bicester Motion, a historic motoring and aviation center located on a former RAF airbase in Oxfordshire, with witnesses reporting multiple explosions and thick black smoke rising from the site.
Ten fire and rescue crews responded to the “serious incident” at the facility starting at 6:39 PM. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service advised people to avoid the area and recommended local residents remain indoors with windows closed until further notice.
South Central Ambulance Service, which arrived at 6:57 PM, established a command structure to support staff at the scene as the emergency response continued.
Local councillor Sam Holland confirmed the fire’s location at Bicester Motion, which houses over 50 specialist businesses focused on classic car restoration and engineering. “I saw it (the fire) from a distance,” Holland told the PA news agency. “There’s lots of emergency vehicles… I hope there is nobody hurt or worse.”
Historic England considers the iconic airfield “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in Britain.
Bicester Motion released a statement acknowledging 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.”
Oxfordshire County Council announced road closures on nearby Buckingham Road, Skimmingdish Lane, the A4421, and the A4095 until further notice, warning of “delays and disruption to journeys in and around Bicester.”
Witnesses shared images on social media showing massive black plumes of smoke rising from the site. Kieran McGurk, a product director living opposite Bicester Motion (formerly known as Bicester Heritage), told PA he heard “multiple bangs” and saw 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.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
About the author
Major Fire Erupts at Former RAF Airfield in Oxfordshire
A significant fire broke out Thursday evening at Bicester Motion, a historic motoring and aviation center located on a former RAF airbase in Oxfordshire, with witnesses reporting multiple explosions and thick black smoke rising from the site. Ten fire and rescue crews responded to the "serious incident" at the facility starting at 6:39 PM. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service advised people to avoid the area and recommended local residents remain indoors with windows closed until further notice. South Central Ambulance Service, which arrived at 6:57 PM, established a command structure to support staff at the scene as the emergency response continued. Local councillor Sam Holland confirmed the fire's location at Bicester Motion, which houses over 50 specialist businesses focused on classic car restoration and engineering. "I saw it (the fire) from a distance," Holland told the PA news agency. "There's […]
Australian War Hero Loses Defamation Appeal Over Afghanistan Allegations
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living war veteran, has had his appeal rejected in a high-profile defamation case regarding newspaper reports of his conduct in Afghanistan. On Friday, three federal court judges unanimously upheld the original 2023 ruling that found the 2018 newspaper articles accusing Roberts-Smith of war crimes were substantially true to a civil standard. The initial judgment determined he was responsible for four of six alleged unlawful killings. The 46-year-old former Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment corporal, who holds both the Victoria Cross and Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, was not present in the Sydney court for the decision. His legal representatives declined to comment afterward, though they still have the option to appeal to Australia's High Court. Despite the civil court findings, Roberts-Smith has never faced criminal charges, which would require proof beyond a […]
Stephen and Ayesha Curry welcome dual celebration: Son’s first birthday falls on mother’s day
May 11th marked a special dual celebration for Stephen and Ayesha Curry, as their youngest son Caius reached his first birthday on the same day as Mother's Day. Ayesha shared her feelings on Instagram alongside photos of Caius, writing, "Our baby boy turned ONE today! Cai cai, the sweetest boy. I can't believe it's been a year. Bursting from the seams with love for him. This was a very nuanced day. I've had so many emotions." While celebrating their son's milestone, Mother's Day wasn't overlooked. NBA star Stephen paid tribute to his wife, acknowledging her role in their family: "Not enough words to describe what you mean to our familyโall the sacrifice, holding down the fort while I'm gone. All the road trips, the crazy schedules, the missed holidaysโthrough it all, you're the backbone of our family. Couldn't do any […]
Rising UK Party Reform in Turmoil After MP Cleared of Threats Against Chairman
British prosecutors have decided not to bring charges against former Reform UK lawmaker Rupert Lowe regarding allegations that he threatened the party's chairman with physical violence. Reform UK, the right-wing party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, currently has five MPs but has recently surpassed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party in opinion polls, becoming Britain's most popular political party according to recent surveys. However, the party has been experiencing internal divisions. Lowe has questioned Farage's leadership abilities, while American billionaire Elon Musk suggested that Lowe should replace Farage as party leader. In March, Reform UK referred Lowe to police, claiming he had made threats against party chairman Zia Yusuf. The party also stated it had received complaints from two female employees in Lowe's parliamentary office alleging serious bullying. Lowe maintained these allegations were "untrue and false." On Wednesday, Britain's […]
Bank of England’s Mann Explains Decision to Keep Interest Rates Steady
Bank of England interest rate-setter Catherine Mann revealed she voted to maintain current borrowing costs last week, despite previously advocating for a substantial 50-basis point cut in February, because the UK labor market has demonstrated greater resilience than anticipated. "The first observation is that the labor market has been more resilient. Now, yes, we've had some prints that are indicative of a slowing labor market, but it is not a non-linear adjustment," Mann explained during a CNBC television interview on Wednesday. Data released Tuesday showed a decline in employment, though economists characterized the decrease as relatively modest. Mann additionally expressed concern about rising household inflation expectations and goods price inflation. The Bank of England reduced its benchmark Bank Rate by a quarter percentage point on May 8, a decision supported by five of the nine members on the Monetary Policy […]
UK Pension Giants Commit ยฃ50 Billion to Private Investments in Growth Push
British pension funds pledged on Tuesday to invest up to 50 billion pounds ($66 billion) of additional capital into UK businesses and infrastructure as the government seeks to leverage private capital for public projects and economic growth. Seventeen investment firms, including Aviva, Legal & General, and M&G, committed to allocating up to 10% of their pension portfolios to infrastructure, property, and private equity by 2030. Half of this investment will be specifically directed toward UK assets. Millions of workplace pension scheme members will see their savings increasingly directed toward higher-risk, potentially higher-return assets such as early-stage businesses and green energy projects, alongside traditional investments in stocks and bonds. These pension fund managers will now compete directly with private equity and specialist investment firms in a market that investment data firm Preqin projects will exceed $30 trillion by 2030. Chancellor of […]
Related
Australian War Hero Loses Defamation Appeal Over Afghanistan Allegations
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living war veteran, has had his appeal rejected in a high-profile defamation case regarding newspaper reports of his conduct in Afghanistan. On Friday, three federal court judges unanimously upheld the original 2023 ruling that found the 2018 newspaper articles accusing Roberts-Smith of war crimes were substantially true to a civil standard. The initial judgment determined he was responsible for four of six alleged unlawful killings. The 46-year-old former Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment corporal, who holds both the Victoria Cross and Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, was not present in the Sydney court for the decision. His legal representatives declined to comment afterward, though they still have the option to appeal to Australia's High Court. Despite the civil court findings, Roberts-Smith has never faced criminal charges, which would require proof beyond a […]
US Aid Plan For Gaza Crumbles As UN Rejects Non-Neutral Distribution Scheme
The United Nations has refused to participate in a US-backed humanitarian operation in Gaza, stating the plan fails to meet fundamental humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence. "This particular distribution plan does not accord with our basic principles, including those of impartiality, neutrality, and independence, and we will not be participating in this," deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the United States, is scheduled to begin operations in Gaza by late May. However, the initiative has faced significant criticism, with UN aid chief Tom Fletcher describing it as a "fig leaf for further violence and displacement" of Palestinians. During a press conference in Turkey, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged these concerns while defending the initiative's intent. "We're not immune or in any way insensitive to the suffering of […]
Chris Brown Arrested in UK Hotel Over Nightclub Bottle Attack
US singer Chris Brown has been arrested in the UK regarding an alleged assault at a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old was taken into custody at a Manchester hotel early Thursday morning on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in Mayfair. According to reports, The Sun newspaper became aware of Brown's presence in the UK on Wednesday and subsequently alerted the Metropolitan Police. A Met spokesman confirmed: "A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He has been taken into custody, where he remains." The statement continued: "The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic […]
Trump Challenges Birthright Citizenship at Supreme Court While Judges Fight Over Power
US President Donald Trump brought his battle against birthright citizenship to the Supreme Court Thursday, in a case that could significantly expand presidential powers and reshape immigration policy. The central question before the justices is whether lower court judges should have the authority to block presidential orders nationwideโa power that has temporarily halted Trump's attempt to end automatic citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The Supreme Court's decision could determine how effectively Trump can implement his agenda through executive actions with limited judicial oversight. During the two-hour hearing, US Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that lower courts exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide injunctions against the citizenship order. He claimed the current system forces judges to make "rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions" and suggested class-action lawsuits as an alternative, though opponents noted this process is time-consuming and inadequate for emergencies. […]
Trump Declares Only He Can Unlock Ukraine Peace Deal With Putin
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio expressed low expectations for Ukraine-Russia peace talks scheduled in Turkey, stating a breakthrough would require direct interaction between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. "I don't think we're going to have a breakthrough here until President Trump and President Putin interact directly on this topic," Rubio said following a NATO foreign ministers meeting in southern Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine would participate in the Istanbul talks but criticized Russia's "low-level" delegation, calling it disrespectful to both Trump and Turkish President Erdogan. "No time of the meeting, no agenda, no high-level of delegation - this is personal disrespect to Erdogan, to Trump," Zelensky stated after meeting Erdogan in Ankara. The Russian delegation is headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who maintained his team had "all the necessary competencies" and viewed the talks as a "continuation" […]
Rising UK Party Reform in Turmoil After MP Cleared of Threats Against Chairman
British prosecutors have decided not to bring charges against former Reform UK lawmaker Rupert Lowe regarding allegations that he threatened the party's chairman with physical violence. Reform UK, the right-wing party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, currently has five MPs but has recently surpassed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party in opinion polls, becoming Britain's most popular political party according to recent surveys. However, the party has been experiencing internal divisions. Lowe has questioned Farage's leadership abilities, while American billionaire Elon Musk suggested that Lowe should replace Farage as party leader. In March, Reform UK referred Lowe to police, claiming he had made threats against party chairman Zia Yusuf. The party also stated it had received complaints from two female employees in Lowe's parliamentary office alleging serious bullying. Lowe maintained these allegations were "untrue and false." On Wednesday, Britain's […]
Be the first to leave a comment