A massive fire has erupted close to RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest RAF airbase, which is home to approximately 5,800 military personnel.
Authorities have issued an urgent caution about “toxic products” being released by the thick plume of smoke above the base.
Residents in the nearby villages have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed while fire crews work to control the situation.
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The crucial RAF base is known for hosting some of the Air Force’s largest aircraft, and plays a vital role in maintaining airborne capabilities, particularly through air-to-air refuelling operations.
It is suspected that the intense fire originated from a large pile of tyres igniting, thereby generating the ‘toxic’ emissions.
Emergency crews from nearby fire stations have been working relentlessly to tackle the inferno, which is expected to persist into the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has urged residents in the affected areas to stay indoors to avoid exposure to harmful fumes.