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| Oxfordshire arson spree: Fire guts council building | Oxfordshire arson spree: Fire guts council building |
| (4 months later) | |
| A huge fire engulfed council offices in Oxfordshire during a spate of suspected arson attacks involving gas canisters that badly damaged two other buildings. | A huge fire engulfed council offices in Oxfordshire during a spate of suspected arson attacks involving gas canisters that badly damaged two other buildings. |
| A man has been arrested over the three blazes, which also damaged a funeral parlour and a thatched cottage. | A man has been arrested over the three blazes, which also damaged a funeral parlour and a thatched cottage. |
| A car ploughed into South Oxfordshire District Council's building in Crowmarsh Gifford, causing huge damage. | A car ploughed into South Oxfordshire District Council's building in Crowmarsh Gifford, causing huge damage. |
| Gas canisters were found at all three fire sites as well as the home of the 47-year-old suspect in Roke. | Gas canisters were found at all three fire sites as well as the home of the 47-year-old suspect in Roke. |
| Police said links between the three fires at the council building, the nearby funeral parlour and the cottage in Rokemarsh, were under investigation. | Police said links between the three fires at the council building, the nearby funeral parlour and the cottage in Rokemarsh, were under investigation. |
| Supt Andy Boyd said: "We are searching another address at Roke at the moment, there are gas canisters in that premises." | Supt Andy Boyd said: "We are searching another address at Roke at the moment, there are gas canisters in that premises." |
| South Oxfordshire District Council leader John Cotton said the planning department "has pretty much disappeared". | South Oxfordshire District Council leader John Cotton said the planning department "has pretty much disappeared". |
| "It's going to be very hard to provide any services that that are provided directly from here," he said. | "It's going to be very hard to provide any services that that are provided directly from here," he said. |
| "Happily that isn't too many in the short term." | "Happily that isn't too many in the short term." |
| 'Bomb disposal' | 'Bomb disposal' |
| The council office fire is under control but firefighters expect to be on the scene for a "significant period of time". | The council office fire is under control but firefighters expect to be on the scene for a "significant period of time". |
| Oxfordshire's chief fire officer Dave Etheridge told the BBC: "We believe there were gas canisters used in all of the locations at the moment. | Oxfordshire's chief fire officer Dave Etheridge told the BBC: "We believe there were gas canisters used in all of the locations at the moment. |
| "We have the ability to call upon our colleagues in bomb disposal just to make sure that the scene is maintained in terms of a safe area." | "We have the ability to call upon our colleagues in bomb disposal just to make sure that the scene is maintained in terms of a safe area." |
| He said it had been a "challenging night" for the 150-strong fire crew called to the three locations. | He said it had been a "challenging night" for the 150-strong fire crew called to the three locations. |
| Eyewitness Karl Mitchell-Shead told the BBC he saw a burnt-out vehicle in the foyer of the council building. | Eyewitness Karl Mitchell-Shead told the BBC he saw a burnt-out vehicle in the foyer of the council building. |
| "We wondered if someone had accidentally driven into it, or purposely driven into the foyer, but certainly it looks like that's where the fire started. | "We wondered if someone had accidentally driven into it, or purposely driven into the foyer, but certainly it looks like that's where the fire started. |
| "That was the area that was most heavily damaged." | "That was the area that was most heavily damaged." |
| Alastair Cox, owner of the funeral parlour, said: "They've put a big gas canister through our front door, set fire to it. | Alastair Cox, owner of the funeral parlour, said: "They've put a big gas canister through our front door, set fire to it. |
| "Dad saw the car leave our place, go round to the council offices and it looks like they have done exactly the same there." | "Dad saw the car leave our place, go round to the council offices and it looks like they have done exactly the same there." |
| The fire service was called shortly after 03:10 to the fire at the thatched cottage and derelict buildings on Quakers Corner in Roke Marsh, near Benson, and to the funeral parlour in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, at 03:20. | The fire service was called shortly after 03:10 to the fire at the thatched cottage and derelict buildings on Quakers Corner in Roke Marsh, near Benson, and to the funeral parlour in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, at 03:20. |
| Thames Valley Police said the investigation was focusing on all three fires being linked and suspicious. | Thames Valley Police said the investigation was focusing on all three fires being linked and suspicious. |
| Nobody was hurt during the fires and the buildings are being examined, police said. | Nobody was hurt during the fires and the buildings are being examined, police said. |
| The local man, 47, was arrested on suspicion of arson and is in custody. | The local man, 47, was arrested on suspicion of arson and is in custody. |
| 'Bangs and pops' | 'Bangs and pops' |
| About 400 staff from departments including housing, planning, building control and leisure work at the council building on Benson Lane. | About 400 staff from departments including housing, planning, building control and leisure work at the council building on Benson Lane. |
| The headquarters is also home to about two-thirds of the Vale of the White Horse District Council's staff. | The headquarters is also home to about two-thirds of the Vale of the White Horse District Council's staff. |
| Andy Roberts, senior communications officer for the councils, said most services would be affected. | Andy Roberts, senior communications officer for the councils, said most services would be affected. |
| Andrea Turner, who can see the offices from her bedroom window, described the fire as "really bad". | Andrea Turner, who can see the offices from her bedroom window, described the fire as "really bad". |
| "I could hear loads of bangs and pops and got up to see what it was and saw massive high flames coming from the top floor of the building. | "I could hear loads of bangs and pops and got up to see what it was and saw massive high flames coming from the top floor of the building. |
| "The roof is now caved in and everything. It's all gone." | "The roof is now caved in and everything. It's all gone." |
| Ian Negus saw the early stages of the fire. | Ian Negus saw the early stages of the fire. |
| "I saw 60ft flames when I heard a bang outside. | "I saw 60ft flames when I heard a bang outside. |
| "Half of the building was relatively sound, but the other half was completely exposed, and, with the wind, over the next couple of hours it got engulfed with flames. | "Half of the building was relatively sound, but the other half was completely exposed, and, with the wind, over the next couple of hours it got engulfed with flames. |
| "It was quite alarming how quickly it spread." | "It was quite alarming how quickly it spread." |
| The council was trying to reduce the impact of the fire on front-line services and will set up an emergency phone line for people who have urgent inquiries. | The council was trying to reduce the impact of the fire on front-line services and will set up an emergency phone line for people who have urgent inquiries. |
| Other councils have offered assistance to the two authorities affected by the fire. Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Henley Town Council are all offering office space to staff. | Other councils have offered assistance to the two authorities affected by the fire. Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Henley Town Council are all offering office space to staff. |
| Are you in the area? Have you witnessed any of the fires? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Are you in the area? Have you witnessed any of the fires? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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