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Large blaze breaks out at World War One airfield

Bea Swallow
BBC News, Wiltshire
Roger Leggard Orange flames and tall plumes of black smoke billowing out from the top of a hangar building.Roger Leggard
There are three, Grade II listed hangars and two conservation areas within the site

A fire service has issued a chemical warning after a blaze broke out at a Grade II*-listed World War One airfield.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said it was called to Lancaster Road, Old Sarum in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to reports of a building fire at 18:38 BST on Thursday.

In a statement, it said: "Due to the potential for unknown chemicals, please stay inside and keep your windows closed to avoid the smoke."

The inferno comes just a week after developers were given the go-ahead for up to 315 homes to be built there following a battle for permission.

Andy Webb A close up picture of the flames ripping through the cafe at the Old Sarum Airfield. It shows a one-story building engulfed in bright flames and three firefighters in the foreground stretching a hose towards the fire.Andy Webb
The flames have engulfed the neighbouring restaurant and café on site

Multiple crews are currently in attendance at the incident, including those from Amesbury, Salisbury, Ludgershall, Andover and Ringwood.

The fire service said Hangar 3 had partially collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjacent restaurant and café.

It added: "Firefighters are working hard to contain the fire and a command unit is now in attendance from Devizes. No casualties have been reported."

Ruth Butler Large plume of black smoke rising from a building in the distance. In the foreground there are fields and trees and a road on the left. The sky is a light blue with wispy clouds.Ruth Butler
Billowing plumes of black smoke can be spotted from miles away

Wiltshire Police said it was currently in attendance to support the fire service as it worked to tackle the flames.

The force added that "enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing", and appealed for anyone who was in the area shortly before the fire began to get in contact.

The airfield lies within the setting of a Scheduled Monument, which means it is recognised as a nationally important archaeological site by the government.

The airfield operators had been told to make repairs to Hangar 3 - which partially collapsed when Storm Isha struck in January 2024 - as a condition of planning approval.

Colin Warrington/Anthony Dweck A picture of Hangar 3 before the fire. The roof of the derelict building is partially collapsed and there is debris lying on the floor. Colin Warrington/Anthony Dweck
The asset was added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk register in October 2020, categorised as 'very bad'

In its formal decision, the inspectorate said the heritage benefits of the application "outweighed" the potential harm it could cause.

The hanger is one of seven built at Old Sarum, which at first was used as a training depot station for day bombing raids, but by 1919 was also used by the School of Army Co-Operation.

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