An investigation has been launched into a significant blaze that erupted at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday morning. Several fire crews tackled the substantial inferno in the early hours as flames consumed a storage building at the base.
Fire Details
The fire is believed to have started around 1am and has been described by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as 'accidental'. The blaze involved a single-storey industrial storage building, which was brought under control safely with no casualties reported. Crews remained at the scene on Sunday morning as a precaution to ensure the incident was fully resolved.
US Air Force Response
The US Air Force, which has been using RAF Fairford since March when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorised its use for 'defensive' strikes, confirmed that there were no injuries and the fire posed no risk to the base populace or local community. A spokesperson said: 'We are thankful for the support of our local community members and services. The safety of our personnel, families and surrounding communities remains our top priority. An investigation has been initiated and is ongoing. More information will be released as it becomes available.'
Context of Protests
The base's involvement in the Iran conflict has been contentious. A peaceful anti-war demonstration took place on Saturday, with approximately 200 people gathering to protest. They marched to the end of the runway, carrying signs with slogans such as 'US out of British bases' and 'Stop Trump's deadly wars'. RAF Fairford is one of only two bases in Europe capable of accommodating all three of America's long-range bombers.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service stated: 'Fire investigation is ongoing and the early indication suggests the cause of fire was nothing other than accidental.'
