Concerned residents have taken to social media after a bright flickering glow of orange light appeared above the town this evening (Sunday).
The glow - bright enough to be seen above houses and the light of streetlamps - appeared at about 8pm this evening, prompting initial concerns of a fire in the town.
One online user wrote:
"Does anyone know what the pulsating orange in that cloud is? It looks like a massive fire."
Luckily for all, the glow is not that of a fire, but rather that of one of Fawley refinery's 'flare stacks'.
The stacks are a safety measure, and a way of burning off excess hydrocarbons and avoiding a buildup of pressure.
They burn 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but not normally to the intensity being experienced tonight.
An extract from the 'Fawley Online' website explains the flames:
"A flame burning at the top of one of the plant’s highest towers might look alarming, but in fact it is an important part of its operation. It is not uncommon for people to be concerned when they see smoke or flames coming from the tower, called the flare stack.
"However, the flare is a normal and vital part of keeping the plant running safely during unplanned operational interruptions or scheduled maintenance."
The Fawley site has four flare stacks. When used on cloudy nights, light from the flares can reflect off the clouds, which can then be seen in the local communities.
Photo and video thanks to Stag Lane Motors.
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