A MAN was last night being held by police after fire raged through three buildings in southern Oxfordshire, including council offices.

The headquarters of South Oxfordshire and Vale district councils were left in ruins after a suspected arson attack gutted the site.

Some time after 3am yesterday a car crashed into the reception area of the council offices, moments before flames engulfed the building.

It was one of three arson attack in the Wallingford area that started within nine minutes of each other.

More than 100 firefighters were deployed to deal with the three blazes, which are all being treated as arson by detectives.

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Gas canisters were found at the scene of each of the three fires.

A 47-year-old Wallingford man was being quizzed by police last night, after being arrested in Rokemarsh late yesterday morning.

He was being held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Oxford Mail:

Rokemarsh resident Liam Tiller said he believed the blaze was related to a long -running planning dispute.

He said: “One of the buildings that was burned was built without planning permission. I believe it was for storing animal feed.

“It was erected without planning permission at least 30 years ago.”

Oxfordshire Fire Service was alerted to the unfolding drama at 3.11am, when an 80-year-old woman reported a blaze at her thatched cottage in Rokemarsh.

It is believed she managed to flee the burning cottage and was later helping police with their investigation.

Fire incident commander manager Gary Coupar said the woman had a smoke alarm fitted by the service only a few weeks ago and this had saved her life.

Oxford Mail:

  • The fire takes hold at the council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford               Picture: Ian Negus

Then, just nine minutes later, fire crews were scrambled to Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, about four miles away.

Both the SODC offices and the nearby Howard Chadwick Funeral Service building were in flames.

Melanie Belgrove-Jones, 52, watched the blaze with her two children in her home, which backs on to the SODC car park. She said: “I’m horrified really because there are often cleaners in that building at all hours of the day, but luckily no-one was hurt.”

Tony Shields, 68, who used to work in the video industry, lives near the council office with wife Patricia. He said: “The fire has totally taken out the first floor and the whole building could have to be demolished.”

Rokemarsh resident Simon Williams lived next to the thatched cottage that was set alight. He said: “It was about 3am we started to smell smoke, then the police knocked on the door at 6.30am saying the area was being evacuated.”

Licensing team leader for SODC Robert Draper, arrived at the offices while the fire was still ablaze.

He said: “I think that we’re all quite shocked by this, it’s going to cause a lot of trouble and issues.”

Fellow council employee Rob Thornton said: “It’s certainly going to have an impact on some services for residents.

“I don’t know what sort of motivation someone would have for setting fire to a council building.”

Thirty residents in the Rokemarsh area were led to safety from their homes to the village hall, as 10 fire engines attended the blaze.

Twenty-seven fire engines were needed in total to tackle the three blazes.

Crews arrived in Wallingford and Rokemarsh shortly after 3am and were there throughout the day.

Thirteen fire engines, including a hydraulic platform from Buckinghamshire, were used at the council offices, 10 at Rokemarsh and four at the funeral parlour.

A water bowser was also brought in from Wiltshire and fire crews dampened down the burnt-out building throughout the day.

Supt Andy Boyd said bomb disposal experts from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment were also called to Rokemarsh after gas canisters were found.

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Chief fire officer David Etheridge added: “It would appear at this stage that gas cylinders were used at all of the incidents.”

Oxford Mail:

  • The fire-hit thatched cottage at Rokemarsh   Picture: Vagner Vidal/INS

Residents evacuated from their homes
POLICE were called to the blazes in Crowmarsh Gifford and Rokemarsh shortly after 3am yesterday.

At about 6.30am, officers evacuated houses in Rokemarsh and closed Braze Lane in the village. 
Benson Lane in Crowmarsh Gifford was also closed and police cordons were put in place in both locations.

Armed response officers and police dogs were sent to Rokemarsh and a police helicopter from neighbouring RAF Benson hovered over the village from about 11am to 11.30am.

Officers later searched a property in Rokemarsh and bomb disposal officers from the Royal Logistic Corps were sent to the South Oxfordshire District Council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford.

Police said it was understood that gas canisters were found near all three fires.

At a press conference shortly after 2pm, Supt Andy Boyd said a 47-year-old man from Wallingford had been arrested on suspicion of arson and was being held in custody.

The police helicopter was later used to track down and intercept a vehicle in the Roke/Ewelme area, although police were not able to confirm it was connected to the fires.

Shortly after 6pm police confirmed officers had searched the site of Mains Motors scrap metal dealer, inset, near Ewelme. 

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