Dozens of fire fighters are tackling three major fires in South Oxfordshire in suspected arson attacks.
Crews were called to the blazes at council offices, a cottage and a funeral parlour in the early hours of this morning. A car, loaded with gas canisters, is believed to have crashed into the offices which have been left 'decimated' by the fire.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said at the peak of the incidents a total of a 27 fire crews from Oxfordshire and Berkshire were tackling the blazes, which all occurred 'within a very short time frame.' Witnesses reported seeing flames 60ft high coming from the council building.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the three fires and is currently in police custody.
Fire crews are tackling a fire at the council offices in South Oxfordshire this morning - one of three fires in the county started within minutes of each other in suspected arson attacks
Crews have been trying to put out the flames at the council offices for almost eight hours and flames were still seen lapping at the inside of the building at 11am today.
Neil Cox, 73, funeral director at Howard Chadwick Funeral Service, said he heard at noise at about 3am and then saw a car drive away quickly.
He said: 'The offices of the funeral home were on fire, so I phoned the owner Howard, called the fire service and we tried putting it out with fire extinguishers.
'My understanding is they broke the window in the front door, popped the cap off a gas canister and threw a match in there.'
Workers said they believe the funeral parlour, which is next door to the council, was probably set alight in error because people presumed the building was part of the council site. They confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control and no bodies had been damaged
At its height 27 separate crews were battling the three major fires in south Oxfordshire, including at the district council offices (pictured)
The three fires were started within close proximity of each other and all within 10 minutes, with the council offices left a charred shell
Police were also called to the fires and have advised drivers to stay away from roads nearby.
A spokeswoman confirmed there had been no reports of anyone injured.
The fires were started within quick succession of each other at the three separate sites.
Firefighters received a call about a fire at a cottage in Roke Marsh at 3.11am and 10 crews were sent to the scene. Then nine minutes later four crews were sent to battle a blaze at a funeral parlour in Marsh Lane.
Just seconds later a call was received to South Oxfordshire District Council's offices at Crowmarsh Gifford, next to the council offices. Thirteen crews from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, attended the incident.
Adam Beasley told Sky News: 'Earlier on I spoke to my mate, who runs the funeral business. I could see the damage to his business, and the council offices are not looking too good either.
'My mother said it was like a bomb, then very quickly the police were on the scene, and fire engines followed soon after.
'In photos you can see a car which was parked up in the foyer. It's plainly an attack involving gas canisters, which would be like a bomb going off when it exploded.'
He said he thought the fire at the funeral parlour was 'mistaken identity', with someone having believed it was part of the council. But he could not understand why the house, a few miles away, had been attacked.
'Fortunately it's just the offices (at the funeral parlour), it's where the customers are met and greeted, so the hearses are fine. They've got a couple of funerals today that are still going ahead as planned.'
There are still flames coming from inside the council building, and most of it has been left as a charred shell with all windows blown out.
Firefighters are still trying to control the blaze at the council offices, after a funeral parlour next door to the building was also set alight
Parts of the council building were badly damaged by the fire, with blackened beams left behind in the wreckage of the major blaze
In a statement Thames Valley Police said: 'Officers were called at 3.24am to Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford where a fire was reported at South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) building and another at a nearby commercial property. At 3.41am officers were called to a third fire at a property in Quakers Corner, Roke Marsh.
'At this stage the police investigation is focussing on all three fires being linked and are believed to be suspicious.
'It is believed that a vehicle collided with the SODC building prior to the fire.
'There are cordons in place at all three locations and residents and motorists are asked to avoid these areas.
'Nobody has been reported injured at this time as a result of these fires, however following these fires the structures of the buildings affected are being examined for safety.
'A 47-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and is currently in custody.'
John Cotton, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said that emergency services such as for helping people who are homeless will still be available today. He told Sky News: 'In the coming couple of days the rest of our services will come back as our contingency plans kick in.'
Neighbouring councils have been offering support and staff are believed to be working from home where possible.
