Jon Cuthill
Reporting from Bicester

Image source, PA Media

It was heartbreaking to watch Oxfordshire's chief fire officer Rob MacDougall struggle to hold back his emotions as he paid tribute to the two firefighters and member of public who died just a few hundred yards from where he stood as he delivered a briefing to the media earlier.

It must be the press conference that no chief ever wants to give - paying tribute the colleagues who had gone to work never to come back - and to the two firefighters who remain in hospital with serious injuries.

With the press gathered on the verge opposite to the entrance of Bicester Motion, microphone stands clustered together and the smell of smoke still in the air, the moments where the chief paused to compose himself spoke more perhaps of the pride and the devastation than perhaps even the tribute.

Sam Holland, a councillor for Bicester Town Council's East Ward, says he was three quarters of a mile from the site when the fire broke out.

He tells BBC Radio Oxford: “You could see pretty significant smoke plumes rising across northern Bicester, so it was clear very early on that this was going to be a serious fire.”

"As the night progressed it became more prevalent. The smell across town was pretty acrid and the advice from the fire service was to stay indoors and close windows,” he adds.

Holland describes the evening as “pretty devastating,” and says the news this morning was “just awful.”

He says that Bicester Town Council pays full tribute to those who lost their lives, as well as their friends and colleagues at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

You can listen to the full interview below.

"I am devastated by the news that two firefighters have lost their lives responding to a major incident in Bicester on Thursday evening,” Phillip Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council says in a statement.

“I am also deeply saddened that a member of the public has also died in the incident," he adds.

"Our firefighters are the very best of us, their courage and compassion is what make them so very special.”

He says that is thoughts are with their “families, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time."

BBC Radio Oxford will be hosting a special programme on Friday evening dedicated to the events in Bicester.

The programme will be broadcast live between 17:00 BST and 18:00 BST on DAB and 95.2 FM in Oxfordshire.

It will also be available on BBC Sounds.

Martin Eastaugh
Reporting from Bicester

There has been a steady stream of people coming to lay flowers outside Bicester Fire Station following last night's tragedy.

One woman was in tears, and two members of South Central Ambulance also came by in their ambulance to add flowers to the tributes.

Another bouquet was left by staff from the fire station.

Tributes and condolences have continued to pour in following the deaths of two firefighters and a member of the public in the Bicester fire. Here are some of the latest:

• Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party: "I think it's an absolutely horrifying incident," she says. "My heart goes out to the families of those people who have lost their lives."
• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: "My thoughts are with their families and friends. The bravery of our firefighters is astounding"
• Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner: "My heartfelt condolences go out to the families, colleagues, and all affected by this tragic incident - and devastating loss," she says in a post on X
• Fire Brigades Union: "This is terrible news. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues," the group writes on social media
• David Hingley, leader of the Cherwell District Council: “This is a deeply upsetting event for our district, and we share in the sadness and shock that many are feeling," he says

Image source, PA Media

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall gave a brief statement on the Bicester fire a few moments ago, before leaving without taking questions from reporters.

Here's his statement in full:

"It's with a heavy heart that today we report the loss of two of our firefighters. A member of the public also sadly died in the incident. Two further fire fighters sustained serious injuries and are currently in hospital.

"The families have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time and we ask for their privacy to be respected. We can't provide any details at present, but will provide further information as soon as we can.

"We were called to the scene of the incident at 18:39 yesterday and at the height of the incident, we had 10 fire engines tackling the fire. We remain onsite with a reduced presence and the fire is under control.

"Our thoughts are with the family friends and colleagues affected during this time. I'm immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multiagency response and the unwavering bravery demonstrated by the emergency services personnel. Thank you."

We've just heard from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall, who is visibly emotional while giving a brief update.

He says the families of those who died have been informed and are being supported, adding he can't release any details at the moment. More details about the incident will be shared later, MacDougall says.

He says that the fire is under control.

"I'm immensely proud and grateful of the exemplary multi-agency response and the unwavering bravery of the emergency services," he adds.

While we wait for a statement from the chief fire officer, we can bring you a bit more information about the incident from local MP Calum Miller.

Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, spoke to the BBC from Bicester Motion after travelling up to the site from London.

"Right now police are outside marshalling those seeking to enter the site. The fire is still smouldering and there is some smoke in the air," he says.

"I understand from the fire service that firstly they are making sure everything is secure, and then of course in the fullness of time there will be an investigation."

Miller adds he is "devastated", and that his thoughts are with the families and friends of all those that had died, and with two firefighters currently in hospital.

"It’s a terrible thing to have happened, and I know it’s a tight knit community who are already showing their support for those families," he says.

The MP says he is "in awe of the bravery of those who put themselves in the front line whenever there is danger".

"It’s an incredible commitment, it's an incredible path of service, and it’s just so tragic that two members of that community have lost their lives."

Image source, PA Media

We'll shortly hear from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall, who will give a statement at scene of the fire in Bicester.

You can follow along by pressing watch live at the top of this page.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has confirmed that one of the firefighters who died in Bicester was from the capital's service.

In a statement, Roe says: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm that one of those who lost their lives is London Leading Firefighter/Sub Officer, who was on retained duty with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"We are devastated by the loss of our colleague and our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those impacted by this incident."

Large plumes of smoke were filmed coming from one of the Bicester Motion buildings after the fire broke out at about 18:30 BST on Thursday.

The video above shows flames licking the side of the building and thick grey smoke filling the air.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that three of its crews and one of its officers were part of the large operation to fight the blaze.

It said: "Our crews are no longer at the scene, however the deepest sympathies and condolences of our Service are with all of those affected by this incident."

Victoria Prentis, who formerly represented Bicester as an MP, and is the Baroness of Banbury, says she was returning to the town on the train shortly before 22:00 BST yesterday when she saw an "unusual glow in the sky.

The glow "was obviously the fire, but I had no idea how catastrophic the effects would be until I heard the news this morning", Prentis continues.

She calls the fatalities as "terribly sad", and adds they will be felt by the local community "very deeply".

She adds: "I’ve obviously met firefighters in Bicester in the past and I know that they are embedded in the communities and are brave people who put themselves in danger in order to keep the rest of us safe."

Susan Brown, the leader of Oxford City Council, says the city flag over Oxford Town Hall was being lowered to half-mast to mourn the loss of the firefighters.

She says: "This is a terrible reminder for us all that firefighters, as well as the other members of the emergency services, put themselves at risk on a daily basis, to protect us all. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude.

"We are deeply saddened, and our thoughts are with the family, colleagues and friends of those we have lost in this tragic incident."

St Laurence’s Church in nearby Caversfield is opening its doors "for anyone looking for a space for private prayer or for stillness and reflection".

The church will be open until 19:00 BST tonight, and again tomorrow and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the events of yesterday and especially with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives," the church says in a statement.

We've been hearing more eye witness accounts of the large fire that broke out at Bicester Motion on Thursday. Here's the latest:

• Nav Jordan, 39, says she was in the garden with her children when she saw smoke at the site of the fire. "You could hear the crackling, it was loud," she says
• Julie Stocker, 46, who lives across the road from Bicester Motion says she saw the flames from her bedroom window, adding the site where the fire took place is usually "very busy"
• Vikas Talwar, 40, who lives in a housing estate near Bicester Motion, says he could see the fire from the street corner outside his house. "There was flames on the roof, on the top of the roof, and a huge big cloud of smoke in the air," he says

This video captured by James Spencer Matthews shows just how large the smoke fumes were that engulfed the skies over Bicester last night.Residents were advised to avoid the area, remain indoors and shut all windows.

One resident, who lives opposite the site, tells the BBC that at about 18:45 BST yesterday evening she could see "big plumes of smoke and hear the explosions" coming from Bicester Motion.

She adds: "We didn’t understand what was going on at the time.

"The neighbours were in the street and all talking, and I had prepared a bag just in case we had to leave.

"I took a walk to the site and we were told by the police to move on, get home inside, and close all our windows and doors as there was asbestos in the air.

"It’s a shock to the community. We’re all very sad and our thoughts are all with the firefighter's families at this sad time."

We're receiving live pictures of the site from a helicopter, showing a number of fire engines still on scene and damages to Bicester Motion, in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

You can follow along with these updates by clicking watch live at the top of this page.