Two firefighters and a member of the public have died following a large fire at a former RAF base.
Oxfordshire County Council said the two firefighters died while tackling the blaze at Bicester Motion on Thursday.
Two further firefighters suffered serious injuries and are currently in hospital, the council added.
Bicester Motion is 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.
Ten fire and rescue crews were called to tackle the fire, which prompted a major response and warnings for local residents to stay indoors.
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.”
Ten fire and rescue crews rushed to the scene to tackled the blaze, which broke out on Thursday evening prompting a major response and warnings for local residents to stay indoors.
In a statement, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “10 fire and rescue crews are currently attending an ongoing serious incident at Bicester Motion from 18:39 this evening.
“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 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.”
Local councillor Sam Holland said: “I saw it (the fire) from a distance.
“There's lots of emergency vehicles.
“Bicester Motion were meeting there earlier.”
Historic England claim the iconic airfield is “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in Britain.
Bicester Motion 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 and a further statement will be made as appropriate.”
Huge fire at Bicester Heritage. A number of loud explosions. 15 fire engines currently onsite tacking the blaze. #bicester #Bicesterheritage pic.twitter.com/zTtUegItBc
— Kieran McG (@kajer87) May 15, 2025
A social media user shared images of massive black plumes of smoke coming from the site - adding they had heard “multiple explosions”.
Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives opposite Bicester Motion - formerly known as Bicester Heritage - said he heard “multiple bangs” and saw a plume of smoke while out walking.
He said: “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.”
One local witness, Nav Jordan, told the BBC she was in the garden with her children when she saw smoke at the site of the fire.
"You could hear the crackling, it was loud," she said.
Another witness, Vikas Talwar, who lives in a housing estate near Bicester Motion told the BBC: "There was flames on the roof, on the top of the roof, and a huge big cloud of smoke in the air.”
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Taking to social media this morning, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the tragedy and for their families.
“Devastating news. My thoughts are with their families and friends”, he wrote
“The bravery of our firefighters is astounding. Hoping those in hospital make a full and swift recovery.”
Breaking news. This story is being updated.
