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15 Jan 2015

Man arrested as firefighters tackle Oxfordshire blazes

A man is arrested as dozens of firefighters tackle three fires, including one at the offices of South Oxfordshire District Council where a car is thought to have hit the building before the fire.

The three fires, which are now under control, began within 10 minutes of each other. Firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a thatched cottage which caught fire at 3.11am.

Police confirmed an 80-year-old woman escaped uninjured.

A blaze at a funeral parlour was reported nine minutes later at the same time a call was received about a fire at South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) in Crowmarsh Gifford.

In a statement, police said the three blazes are linked and a 47-year-old man has been remanded in custody in connection with the fires.

Thames Valley police said: “It is believed that a vehicle collided with the the SODC building prior to the fire.”

The statement added the incident was not believed to be linked to any terrorist activity. No one was injured but the structures of the buildings affected are being inspected.

Superintendent Andy Boyd from Thames Valley Police says that gas canisters were found at the scene of each of the fires.

Eyewitness Ian Negus told the Oxford Mail he could see the burnt-out wreckage of a car in the foyer of the council building.

He said: “It looks to me as if it has been driven in. No-one seems to know yet who the driver is.

“But security on the site who arrived after the fire started said it was arson and that it involved a car.”

David Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “At this stage, I am unable to state what the causes of the fires were.”

Late on Thursday afternoon the fire took hold once more in the council building, and firefighters had to smash windows to get in as flame and smoke came from the roof.

SODC thanked people for their messages of support and said its priority was to restore frontline services.

It says it hopes to have its website restored “by the start of next week”. Services affected include planning and building control, finance and housing.

All council meetings will go ahead but those scheduled to take place at Crowmarsh will be relocated.

South Oxfordshire district council offices still smouldering after the fire

A spokesman said:”We are putting our business continuity plan into place to make sure the effect on the most important services is kept to a minimum.”

An emergency number has been set up. If you are at risk of being made homeless today, you should call 01235 520202.