Hampshire firefighters say 'glow' was Fawley oil refinery flaring excess gas
and live on Freeview channel 276
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service posted on social media saying it had received a large number of calls concerned about flames coming from the Exxon-owned oil refinery in Fawley.
The glow in the sky could be seen in Portsmouth.
But the site was not in danger – instead, it was undergoing a routine procedure known as flaring, burning off excess gas.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA statement from the company said: ‘Due to an interruption in operations late yesterday evening we are currently flaring and we anticipate that this will continue for a number of hours.
‘We apologise to our local residents for any concern and inconvenience caused by the flaring and associated noise.
‘We are doing all we can to resolve the situation and are taking a series of measures to minimise the flare.
‘Flaring is a safe, controlled and environmentally approved way of burning off excess gas which would normally be recycled and used in our operating processes.’
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Fawley site has four flare stacks, and on a cloudy night flames can be reflected off the clouds, creating an eye-catching – if worrying – sight for communities across the area.