BLAZE TRAGEDY
Fire chief fights back tears as he remembers hero colleagues among 3 killed in horror blaze at former RAF base
Watch the horror blaze tear tear through the building
A FIRE chief is seen fighting back tears after a horror blaze killed three people, including two firefighters.
Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall commended his colleagues for their " unwavering bravery" as he gave an emotional statement
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Two firefighters are among three people who died in a horror blaze at a former RAF base last night.
Another two firefighters were left seriously injured and remain in hospital.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene in yesterday following multiple reports of explosions - with large plumes of smoke visible for miles.
Ten fire crews had been battling to bring the blaze under control since 6.30pm on Thursday.
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Speaking outside Bicester Motion shortly after 1pm today (FRI), Oxfordshire Fire Service’s Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall commended the bravery of his firefighters.
Fighting back tears, he said: “It’s with a heavy heart that today we report the loss of two of our fire officers. A member of the public has also sadly died in the incident.
“Two further fire fighters sustained serious injuries and are currently in hospital.
“Their families have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts remain with them at this most difficult time.
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“We ask for their privacy to be respected.”
Mr MacDougall said the fire service was called to the blaze at 6:39pm on Thursday and had so fire engines tackling the flames at the height.
Firefighters remain at the site but the fire is now under control.
He said the fire service is unable to released further details about the cause of the inferno yet.
He continued: “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues affected during this time.
“I am immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multi-agency response and the unwavering bravery demonstrated.”
RAF Bicester was former training site before it closed in 2004.
It is now owned by Bicester Heritage with various firms - specialising in classic car restoration and engineering - operating at the site.
Terrified residents reported seeing clouds of thick smoke fill the sky as the blaze took hold at the historic location.
Locals were told to avoid the area and urged to remain indoors and close their windows "until further notice".
Among those leaving floral tributes was Jamie Jessett, 29. He said his school friend is one of the firefighters who worked tirelessly to control the blaze last night.
He told The Sun: “It’s devastating news. My thoughts are with the families of all those affected going forwards.
“It’s also devastating for the people of Bicester. We’re really shocked.”
Phoebe Bowman, who saw heavy smoke at around 7pm as she drove through the area, also left flowers.
The 19-year-old said: “At first I thought it was the weather, as it was quite a foggy day, but then as I drove towards Tescos, I could just see it was really heavy smoke.
“Then I saw a fire engine racing along the road - and then another one, then police cars.
“It must have been around 7pm but the smoke was heavy, so it must have been burning for some time by that point.”
She added: “It’s very sad - I come to Bicester village with my family quite a lot.”
One social media user posted a shocking image of plumes of dark smoke billowing from the site, claiming to have heard "multiple explosions".
The deaths of two firefighters while tackling the blaze was “devastating news”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The PM added: “The bravery of our firefighters is astounding.”
Audrey Worvill, 62, who lives a stone’s throw from Biscester Motion, told The Sun she was standing outside her house when she heard a “big bang”.
She said: “I heard this popping noise at first, about 6.20pm. It sounded like gunshots or fireworks.
“Then all of a sudden we heard a big bang. It was really frightening, it made me jump.
“I looked outside and my husband said ‘that’s smoke’.”
She added: “The whole thing was up in flames 10 minutes later, it didn’t take long…You really couldn’t breathe, the smoke was that thick.”
The grandmother-of-six said: “Only one fire engine came at first so we thought it can’t be anything serious. But then they came from all over, with ambulances and police helicopters and I thought ‘this can’t be good’.”
The garden centre worker said she walked up the road to the second entrance to the business centre to see what was happening when she saw the entire roof on fire and the doors of the hangar down.
She added: “We wondered if the bang could’ve been from the hangar doors falling - but something inside it must’ve exploded to blow them out, they wouldn’t just fall down on their own.”
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.
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"Loud bangs have been constantly going off and multiple helicopters are still circling the site."
Chief fire officer Rob MacDougall said: "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."
In a statement, firefighters and Oxfordshire County Council said: "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.
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"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."
RAF Bicester was predominantly used as a training site, but became redundant in 2004.
The 350 acre former airfield in Oxfordshire became an active station over a century ago in 1917.
Nineteen of the buildings on the site are Grade II listed and some structures are Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Bicester Heritage, more commonly known as Bicester Motion, is home to more than 50 specialist businesses which centre around 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.
In a statement, Bicester Motion described the bravery of emergency services as 'overwhelming' as they said they were 'deeply saddened' by the three deaths.
Molly Pipe told the BBC that the smoke could horrifically be smelt "from perhaps half a mile away".
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Resident Vikas Talway, 40, told the he could see the fire from the street.
He said: "There was a lot of smoke yesterday. Lots of people were gathering here on the corner but a lot of smoke was coming out.
"There was flames on the roof, on the top of the roof, and a huge big cloud of smoke in the air. I could see it from this corner near my house."
Bicester resident Nav Jordan, 39, said she was "really worried" when she could see smoke from her garden.
She told the PA news agency: "We were actually in the garden with the kids and then all of a sudden we saw the flames glowing up at the back, and we did wonder what it was.
"We were quite concerned if it was one of the houses over there, because we know all the neighbours and everyone in the local area.
"So, my husband went for a walk just to go have a look and just saw the flames sort of going up."
She added: "You could hear the crackling, it was loud. There were a few explosions as well. Sounds of things exploding, which is when we worked out it must have been Bicester Heritage."
On the casualties, Ms Jordan added: "It's just really sad. I think it's because we all thought because it's Bicester Heritage we just assumed it was no-one's house, and because we know that building tends to be quite empty in the day we just assumed it would be fine.
"To wake up to the news today, it's just so so sad, especially with two firefighters there trying to fight it."
And Sam Holland, a local councillor, described seeing the blaze "from a distance".
Bicester Motion released a statement praising the teams bravery.
It said: "We are deeply saddened to share the tragic news that two firefighters and a close friend of the site have lost their lives. There are no words at times like this, but our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.
"We pray for the two firefighters in hospital.
"The bravery shown by the emergency services teams has been overwhelming. We are grateful for all the support and especially the exceptional work by all in such unprecedented circumstances.
"The strength and kindness of the Bicester community, of which we are proud members, has truly shown itself.
"The site will remain closed over the weekend as we continue to work closely with the emergency services."
MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller said in a statement: "I am heartbroken to learn that three people lost their lives in the fire yesterday at Bicester Motion.
"My deep condolences go to the family and friends who are now grieving their loss.
"I want to pay tribute to the bravery of our firefighters and emergency services.
"It is terrible that two fire officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.
"The death of colleagues will be felt by all in the fire service family and I am holding them in my thoughts.
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"This is a devastating moment for our community.
"I know it will express its support and care for all those affected."
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