What began as a quiet evening near Bicester Village quickly turned into a night of panic and confusion as loud explosions rocked the area, followed by a towering inferno that lit up the Oxfordshire sky.
Locals described hearing a series of bangs just before thick black smoke started rising from the site of Bicester Motion, a historic former RAF base.
The fire was so intense that smoke could be seen for miles, and emergency services were called in full force.
Police, fire crews, and ambulances rushed to the scene around 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday night, trying to get the situation under control as fast as possible.
Emergency Response Scrambles to Contain the Fire
Ten fire crews were reportedly dispatched to battle the flames at Bicester Motion — a motoring and aviation heritage site that hosts about 50 specialist businesses.
The fire is said to be under control as of this morning, though teams remain on site to fully extinguish what remains.
Local authorities immediately advised people to avoid the area and to stay indoors, keeping windows shut until further notice due to the heavy smoke.
The advisory has since been lifted, but traffic around the area remains extremely congested.
Eyewitnesses Share First-Hand Accounts of Chaos
Many people in the area shared what they saw — and heard — as the fire erupted.
Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives across from the site, described hearing “multiple bangs” while walking home.
He noticed the smoke growing darker the closer he got, and then the sirens began.
“As we turned the corner, ash started falling from the sky.
It was clear something major was happening,” he said.
“We saw several fire engines and police cars, and helicopters are still circling above.”
Another witness said the smoke could be smelled from half a mile away, while a social media user captured photos and video showing large plumes of black smoke and mentioned hearing explosions too.
Historic Site at the Heart of the Blaze
Bicester Motion, formerly known as Bicester Heritage, is no ordinary location.
It’s a deeply valued site that houses over 50 businesses focused on classic car restoration and engineering.
According to Historic England, it’s considered one of the best-preserved examples of an RAF base in the UK — adding emotional weight to the loss caused by the fire.
Local Leaders and Residents Voice Concern
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber shared a video of the incident on social media, calling it an “awful situation.”
He confirmed that police officers were working alongside Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue to manage the emergency.
Local councillor Sam Holland also acknowledged the seriousness of the fire, saying he saw the thick smoke from afar and hoped that no one had been seriously hurt.
“There were a lot of emergency vehicles on-site. I’d just spoken to someone who left a meeting at Bicester Motion shortly before it happened,” he said.
Emergency Services Promise Continued Updates
Officials from Bicester Motion confirmed that emergency services were on-site and cooperating closely with them.
“We appreciate the concern from local residents and are working with the emergency services.
A more detailed statement will be shared as needed,” a spokesperson said.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that, as of this morning, four fire and rescue crews remained at the scene, supported by a hydraulic platform, a water carrier, a command unit, and high-volume pumping equipment.
Ambulance Crews Remain on Standby
The South Central Ambulance Service reported they were called to the scene at 6:57 p.m. and had since set up a strong command structure to assist on the ground.
They are continuing to monitor the site and support other emergency teams.
At this stage, it’s still unclear if anyone has been hurt in the incident.