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Steve Parsons

Man arrested after 3 fires were started in 9 minutes

Dramatic scenes in the English county today.

Updated 1.18pm

FIRE SERVICES IN Oxfordshire were called to three blazes in the early hours of this morning.

The fires were started within nine minutes of each other on sites not more than 5 miles apart.

One of the buildings belongs to the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council.

The property was engulfed in flames for more than eight hours after what is believed to be a deliberate act.

“We believe it to be the result of arson, though that’s not clear at the moment,” council leader John Cotton told the BBC.

Sky News reports that 100 firefighters attended the scene.

The building looks to be completely decimated in dramatic scenes being broadcast by local media.

A 47-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and is currently in custody.

The other two buildings which were set alight are very close to each other – and to the council building.

Emergency services received the first call at 3.11am about a fire at a thatched property in Rokemarsh. Just nine minutes later, two more calls were received by emergency services.

The third fire was started at a funeral parlour and was attended by four units.

“We are in the process of dealing with three major fires in South Oxfordshire, which occurred within a very short timeframe.

It is believed that there have been no injuries.

South Oxfordshire District Council fire
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  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    A bomb disposal officer looks into a car at the South Oxfordshire District Council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford following a fire at the offices.Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons
  • South Oxfordshire District Council fire

    Source: Steve Parsons

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29 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:17 AM

    Pet hate: use of the word ‘decimated’ to mean completely or mostly destroyed. To decimate is actually to reduce by one tenth. It was a punishment among Roman soldiers for cowardice, etc; every tenth soldier would be killed.

    Bring on the red thumbs.

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:54 AM

    I rev thumbed but only because you asked me too. Indeed you are correct

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    Mute Rebekah Corbett
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:00 PM

    You beat me to it Jane.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:13 PM

    Fair enough, Hevin ;)

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    Mute VoiceOfVanguard
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:58 PM

    As with many words it’s down to usage. decimate has been so popularly (mis) used for years to mean a savage cut that has become accepted practice to use it that way.

    I really am going to try and get out some more this year.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 15th 2015, 2:08 PM

    Voice, you’re right. It’s like ‘literally’. People forget the true meaning.

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Jan 15th 2015, 8:26 PM
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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 15th 2015, 8:35 PM

    Argh Peter, that one actually burns!

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    Mute Joanna
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    Jan 15th 2015, 10:30 AM

    The world’s gone mad.

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    Mute Vaibhav Borse
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:32 AM

    The dumba** really took winter seriously!!

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    Mute Justin Devaney
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Takes me an hour to light the fire. This guy is quick

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    Mute Rusty Balls
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    Jan 15th 2015, 10:38 AM

    Maybe… or it’s deliberate. Who’d do that?

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    Mute Goggles McGlasses
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    Jan 15th 2015, 10:58 AM

    Arson usually is deliberate Rusty. Thats kind of what the word means actually.

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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:04 AM

    But ‘arson’ suggests uncertainty…..

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    Mute Gravel Pitt
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:10 AM

    And the council chap says – the cause is ‘ not clear’……

    11
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    Mute Rusty Balls
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:32 AM

    A poor choice of words I agree. Sky news are reporting that a man has been arrested after driving a car with gas canisters into the building, causing the fire. There has been speculation that this was an attack of some sort.

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    Mute Mad Mike
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:00 PM

    Arson is intentionally and maliciously setting fire to property, vehicles etc. no uncertainty there.

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    Mute Gravel Pitt
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:24 PM

    If arson was certain – ‘arson’ would not be used….

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    Mute Jack Delaney
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:55 PM

    Rusty, you can safely drop out the word ‘speculation’ from the report. Anyone driving a car full of fuel cans into a council building at 3am introduces a degree of certainty that it was an arson attack.

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    Jan 15th 2015, 7:11 PM

    There’s always arson around when that guy’s about the place.

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    Mute Cian Doherty
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:53 AM

    More deranged Muslims?

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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Jan 15th 2015, 12:10 PM

    or Catholics?

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    Mute CreditTiger
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:37 PM

    Have they declared a caliphate in ImagiNationLand!?!

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    Mute bacoxy
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    Jan 15th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Great screen grab… It looks like an impressionist painting.

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    Mute Mad Mike
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:03 PM

    Yeah. I thought that Sky shut off its non-HD version over five years ago.

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    Mute Grim Reaper
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:32 AM

    Perpetrator must have had a burning desire to start fires….

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    Mute Jeni Brennan
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:32 PM

    Billy Joel?

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    Mute Grant Masterson
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    Jan 15th 2015, 1:59 PM

    27 pumps at one incident.!!!

    Say for example that was in a country like Carlow, that alone would probably use up nearly all resources from all surrounding counties aswell as to Carlow. Leaving them very shy on the ground everywhere else.

    Footage of the council building was incredible. Helped along by high winds.

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    Jan 15th 2015, 7:13 PM

    3 fires in 9 minutes.
    So did he make it into the book of records or not???

    3
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