Didcot B Blaze - Conflicting Stories Stir Energy Mystery

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20 October 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Experts from the Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service have already begun an investigation into the cause of a major blaze at Didcot B power station in Oxfordshire which raged throughout Sunday night (from about 8:00pm) and has done extensive damage to the facility.

25 fire engines and over 100 firefighters tackled the blaze and a fires services helicopter was also in attendance to help direct operations.

Neither terrorism or arson is suspected at this stage. A power station in Yorkshire was also hit with a blaze earlier this year.

Conflicting evidence sparks mystery

According to some, Didcot B is currently partially mothballed. There is no report from nPower, the station operator, on the fire at all and no indication as to whether it was in the plan to 'unmothball' which has happened to many stations recently to ease the fears of power-cuts this winter. Energy Secretary Ed Davey has reported that the National Grid had assured him that there was no risk to energy supplies - but that he was keen to see Didcot B producing power again as soon as possible!

Meanwhile, Neil Scott, the station manager at Didcot B said: "Half of the plant is running normally. I'm pretty confident by the end of the week we'll have this plant back up and running".

The fire service has declared that the investigation alone could take several weeks.

No injuries

The fire has been extinguished apart from several hotspots. Nobody was injured. The full extent of damage is not known although eye-witnesses say that at least three cooling towers have been destroyed. The fire could be seen from miles around such was its intensity. Mr Davey said: "My priority is to understand the cause of the fire and get the affected unit back, generating electricity as soon as it's safe to do so."

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 20 October 2014

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