Fire Breaks Out at RAF Fairford Used by US Air Force for Iran Operations

Fire chiefs have confirmed that the cause of a military base blaze is believed to be accidental. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) said crews were called to RAF Fairford at 01:25 BST on Sunday after flames were spotted in a one-storey industrial storage building. Fire chiefs said there were no injuries, and early indication suggests the cause of the blaze was accidental. The Gloucestershire base, located near the Wiltshire border, is being used by the United States Air Force (USAF) to launch operations against Iran. GFRS said neighbouring fire and rescue services helped tackle the blaze, which has now been extinguished. A GFRS spokesperson said: "Crews remain at the scene this morning as a precaution and to ensure the incident is fully resolved." Fire chiefs had previously warned residents to close their windows and doors due to smoke from the incident. The UK government announced on 1 March that it had agreed to allow British military bases to be used for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites. Due to its long runway, RAF Fairford is capable of hosting all three kinds of long-range bombers in the USAF - the B-1, B-2 and the B-52. South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the Ministry of Defence have been approached for comment.