Fire engines and police at Oxford Port Meadow as smoke seen

Eyewitness Yomi Ikuru said at 8pm on Friday, July 31, that emergency services remain at Port Meadow and that at the height of the incident there were around seven fire trucks and a similar number of police cars.

He said he first spotted smoke at around 5.20pm this afternoon and approximately half an hour later the emergency services appeared in force at the corner of Port Meadow.

The park is a large meadow of open common land beside the River Thames to the north and west of Oxford, and – although the emergency services were in the park – it is not confirmed that is where the fire was.

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Indeed, a separate eyewitness, Douglas Ligertwood, said it was Burgess Field – which borders Port Meadow – that was on fire.

Mr Ikuru said the police hadn’t told him what was happening and said “it isn’t too clear what is going on”, although the smoke stopped several hours ago.

As well as fire crews and police vehicles he also spotted a Network Rail Incident Truck, with the parks next to the railway line.

The emergency services have been contacted for comment.