SOUTH Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have urged people to only contact them in an emergency.
Their district council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford were severely damaged in a fire yesterday, which has affected council services including planning, environmental health, finance and housing.
- 9PM UPDATE: Andrew Main charged over fires
- 2.30PM UPDATE: Pensioner whose thatched cottage was destroyed relieved no-one injured in south Oxfordshire arson attacks
On a temporary website, it said: “We’re currently working very hard to get our IT and phone systems back to normal.
“We are politely asking anybody with a general enquiry to bear with us and not to call until we are able to restore our IT and telephone systems in full. Please only call if you have a genuine emergency.
“We are hoping that later today we can give a clearer idea of how services will be affected and for how long.”
It said services such as waste and leisure are working as usual and it hoped online services will be restored at the start of next week.
An emergency line is available for urgent enquiries, which is 01235 520202.
For more information visit southandvalecouncils.wordpress.com
Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said a 47-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson is still being held by police.
She also said forensic teams began their investigation into the fire today.
Firefighters were still at the council offices this morning after the fire reignited last night.
High winds fanned areas of the offices in Benson Lane, causing fresh flames in parts that were inaccessible to firefighters because of potential structural damage and the possible danger that it might bring to personnel.
- From left, the leader of the council John Cotton, police area commander Supt Andy Boyd, and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Simon Furlong speak to the media after the fires
The fire service were called to a series of arson attacks in the early hours of yesterday. Police confirmed all three fires were linked. Onlookers described how they saw the council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford destroyed by the blaze.
An nearby funeral parlour and a thatched cottage in Rokemarsh, near Benson, were also targeted between 3am and 4am. Gas canisters were found at all three scenes and surrounding roads were cordoned off.
Additional fire engines were sent to the scene last night to assist crews and a hydraulic platform was again used to pour water on the fire from height. Flames were brought under control by around 9pm and one fire engine is at the scene this morning damping down.
Simon Furlong, Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, said: "High winds yesterday evening fanned areas of the building, causing fresh flames for a short period. We were prepared for such an occurrence and additional resources were committed to deal with the fire.
"As at 7.45am today we have one fire engine on site and we are continuing to monitor the situation and work to damp down the area. We will continue to liaise with South Oxfordshire District Council and Thames Valley Police and will remain on site for as long as is required."
About 85 per cent of the building has been damaged by the fire.
Our top stories
Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article