A huge fire broke out at a UK military air base used by the US to strike Iran in the early hours of this morning and residents have been urged to shut their windows.
The inferno ripped through RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and videos show black smoke billowing above the rising flames of the blaze.
Fire crews rushed to the base – used by the US Air Force – at 1.52am to battle the blaze which has now been brought under control.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said it believes the fire was started accidentally after wiring caught alight in an old disused building – reportedly the base’s commissary.
There have not been any injuries or damaged to aircraft reported and no RAF personnel were involved in fighting the fire, the MoD added.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) said that flames engulfed a single-storey industrial storage building but it was brought under control safely.
Firefighters remain at the scene this morning as a precaution to ensure no further fires will catch alight.
A fire investigation has been opened, but the GFRS said that they belive the cause of the fire was ‘nothing other than accidental.’
The huge fire broke out at RAF Fairfield – an airbase used by the US to strike Iran- at 1.52am this morning
A US Air Force Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on March 17. The base has been used by the US to strike Iran as one of two European bases that can host heavy bombers
A GFRS spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 1.52am this morning to reports of a fire at RAF Fairford.
‘Fire engines from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended and were supported by neighbouring fire and rescue services.
‘The fire involved a single-storey industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties.
‘Crews remain at the scene this morning as a precaution and to ensure the incident is fully resolved.
‘Fire investigation is ongoing and the early indication suggests the cause of fire was nothing other than accidental.’
RAF Fairford has hosted US Air Force planes and personnel since 2019 and has been used by US forces for the Iran War.
It is one of two European airfields designed for heavy bombers and routinely supports US Bomber Task Force operations.
This means all three of the US long range bombers – the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit and the B‑52 Stratofortress – can be stationed there.
The blaze was brought under control by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue service (GFRS)
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental the GFRS said. The Ministry of Defence claimed wiring caught alight in a disused building, reportedly the bases commissary
Some of its most prominent uses have been as an airfield for US Air Force B-52 bombers during the first Gulf War in 1991, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the 2003 Iraq War and this year’s Iran War.
The US Military spokesperson: ‘At approximately 1 a.m. on 26 April, a fire was identified in an unoccupied building on RAF Fairford, leading to a response from on-base emergency services with the support of our partners from surrounding communities.
‘There were no injuries sustained, the fire has been contained and currently poses no risk to the base populus or local community.
‘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.’
