In the early hours of Friday, January 2, a fire broke out in an office block at the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station construction site. The fire originated in an air conditioning unit and was reported shortly after 3:30 a.m.
Firefighters from Nether Stowey Fire Station responded promptly to alarms signaling smoke within the building. Upon arrival, they coordinated with the HPC fire and rescue service, who had already extinguished the blaze. The fire crews then conducted thorough checks of the premises using breathing apparatus to ensure no further fire hazards remained.
Following the inspection, the building was ventilated using positive pressure fans to clear lingering smoke, after which responsibility was handed back to HPC Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS). The DSFRS teams then returned to their home station.
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Hinkley Point C, once complete, is set to house twin nuclear reactors designed to supply low-carbon electricity to over six million UK homes. The project’s principal owner, EDF Energy, anticipates the first reactor becoming operational by the decade’s end, reinforcing the nation’s energy security.
However, the project has faced significant challenges. In 2022, three companies were prosecuted following the death of worker Jason Waring at the site. Additionally, in July 2025, a wildcat strike erupted amid bullying allegations against a site supervisor, who was subsequently removed during an investigation, resolving the dispute.
Most recently, a fire enforcement notice was issued to an HPC contractor after inspectors found serious fire safety deficiencies, highlighting ongoing safety concerns during the construction process.