Huge Blaze Sparks Panic Along Hampshire Coast – ExxonMobil Refineries Flaring Amid Operational Glitch
Giant Orange Flame Lights Up Hampshire Sky
ExxonMobil’s refinery near Southampton triggered emergency flaring after an unexpected “interruption in operations.” A massive orange flame shot up from flare stacks, visible for miles – from Portsmouth right across to the Isle of Wight.
Locals around Fawley and the New Forest panicked, flooding 999 with calls fearing a catastrophic fire as the bright blaze danced off low clouds.
ExxonMobil Assures Safety Amid Fears
The oil giant explained: “Flaring is a safe, controlled and environmentally-approved way of burning off excess gas that would normally be recycled.” They promised teams are working hard to fix the problem and return to normal operations ASAP.
“A flame burning atop the plant’s flare stack might look scary, but it’s critical for safe operation during any unplanned disruption or maintenance,” the company added.
Emergency Services Overwhelmed
Hampshire Fire and Rescue reported a surge in emergency calls during the incident. So many panicked reports forced them to seek help from neighbouring Wiltshire and Dorset fire services to handle the demand.
Residents are urged not to worry as the flare is routine safety procedure – but the dramatic sight continues to spark concern across the region.
