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Major fire at gas-fired Didcot B power station Major fire at gas-fired Didcot B power station
(35 minutes later)
Fire crews are battling a major blaze at Didcot B Power Station, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue has said.Fire crews are battling a major blaze at Didcot B Power Station, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue has said.
Twenty fire appliances are at the scene, which broke out in one of the cooling towers.Twenty fire appliances are at the scene, which broke out in one of the cooling towers.
Energy company RWE npower, which owns the gas-burning power station, has said the fire is now under control and there have been no injuries.Energy company RWE npower, which owns the gas-burning power station, has said the fire is now under control and there have been no injuries.
Police have warned local people to stay indoors and close their doors and windows.Police have warned local people to stay indoors and close their doors and windows.
A spokesman for the power firm said: "We can confirm that no one is injured which is clearly the most important thing and also that the fire is now under control. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said 60 firefighters were called to the site. The plant was shut down and all areas isolated before crews moved in to tackle the fire.
It is not being treated as arson, the fire service said.
A spokesman for RWE npower said: "We can confirm that no one is injured which is clearly the most important thing and also that the fire is now under control.
"Obviously the plant has been shut down.""Obviously the plant has been shut down."
He said it was "too early to say" how much damage had been caused, adding that there would have been "about a dozen" people on site when the fire broke out.He said it was "too early to say" how much damage had been caused, adding that there would have been "about a dozen" people on site when the fire broke out.
Georgina Miles, who lives half a mile away, said the fire was "huge" but the flames had become smaller since firefighters had arrived.Georgina Miles, who lives half a mile away, said the fire was "huge" but the flames had become smaller since firefighters had arrived.
"It was pretty dramatic; there was a lot of damage," Ms Miles said."It was pretty dramatic; there was a lot of damage," Ms Miles said.
Zainab Mirmalek, who lives opposite the power station, said: "There's lots of water gushing down on it, lots of smoke and steam but the fire is definitely under control now."Zainab Mirmalek, who lives opposite the power station, said: "There's lots of water gushing down on it, lots of smoke and steam but the fire is definitely under control now."
Fellow Didcot resident Leila Qureshi said: "We got quite near before the road was shut.Fellow Didcot resident Leila Qureshi said: "We got quite near before the road was shut.
"The fire was ferocious. You could feel the heat and smell it.""The fire was ferocious. You could feel the heat and smell it."
Emergency service personnel from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) have all been called in to help with the blaze.Emergency service personnel from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) have all been called in to help with the blaze.
The power station has been in operation since 1997 and can supply power to up to one million homes, according to RWE npower.The power station has been in operation since 1997 and can supply power to up to one million homes, according to RWE npower.
The neighbouring coal-powered Didcot A power station was closed last year.The neighbouring coal-powered Didcot A power station was closed last year.
Hundreds of people gathered to watch when three of its enormous cooling towers were demolished in July.Hundreds of people gathered to watch when three of its enormous cooling towers were demolished in July.
Are you in the area? If you are willing to be interviewed about this please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your phone number.Are you in the area? If you are willing to be interviewed about this please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your phone number.
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