The two firefighters and member of the general public who died in an enormous blaze at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire have been named amid an outpouring of public grief.
Firefighters Jennie Logan, aged 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38 have been each killed together with 57-year-old David Chester after a large hearth ripped by what’s now the Bicester Motion enterprise park at 6.30pm on Thursday.
Ten hearth crews rushed to the inferno on the former RAF Bicester – the place a number of companies now restore basic vehicles and planes – and staff have been evacuated from the scene, as neighbours reported a number of explosions and clouds of dense black smoke unfold for miles.
In a press release on Friday night, Thames Valley Police mentioned the households of the 2 lifeless firefighters and Mr Chester have been being supported by specifically educated officers.
Police mentioned each firefighters labored at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) and Mr Sadler was additionally a part of the London Fire Brigade. He was described by the capital’s hearth chief as a number one member of workers on retained responsibility in Oxfordshire.
The pressure has launched an unexplained loss of life probe however it’s “currently not a criminal investigation”, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe mentioned.
Mr Metcalfe added: “This is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police are with the families, friends and colleagues” of the victims.
The head of the London Fire Brigade, Commissioner Andy Roe, mentioned Mr Sadler “exemplified courage and selflessness”, including: “We are devastated by the loss of our colleague and friend.
“This is clearly an incredibly difficult time for us all; we have lost a well-respected and much-loved colleague who exemplified courage and selflessness in the service of others.
“It has been an incredibly challenging day for the UK Fire and Rescue Service. This incident highlights the high-risk nature of the service we provide every day.”
Two additional OFRS firefighters suffered critical accidents and are at present in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council beforehand mentioned.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Neasham Glasgow, mentioned the King would need to “pass on his sincerest condolences to all those affected”.
Members of the general public began to put flowers and tributes on the scene of the hearth on Friday, together with a handpicked bunch of daisies and written messages, whereas a bunch of schoolchildren additionally arrived to pay tribute on the scene.
Bouquets have been laid below the Bicester Motion signal exterior the previous RAF base the place a heavy police presence remained in place.
A handwritten word learn: “Thank you for your service. Our hearts are with the services and families.” The word featured hand-drawn photos of an ambulance, police officer, physician, and firefighter.
Another card learn: “Our hearts have broken for the loss of two heroes. All our love and prayers.”
With his voice breaking and showing to combat again tears, Oxfordshire’s chief hearth officer, Rob MacDougall, instructed reporters on the scene: “I am immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multi-agency response and unwavering bravery demonstrated by all the emergency services personnel.”
An electrician who was one of many first individuals on the web site of the hearth described how hearth brigades “poured in” to the location amid thick smoke. Fatih Ozzoksel, often known as Ozzy, mentioned he noticed “massive plumes of smoke” from his backyard on Thursday evening and went straight to the location.
“The smoke was unreal, I couldn’t breathe,” the 54-year-old proprietor of Ozzy Engineers instructed The Independent. “There were explosions that just wouldn’t stop for at least an hour and a half. One sounded like thunder, I think it was a roof collapsing.”
Mr Ozzoksel mentioned he “had never seen anything like this” in his life, including: “I feel so sorry for the people who lost their lives. Their bravery was unreal they were literally pouring in.”
Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives reverse the location, mentioned he heard “multiple bangs” and noticed a plume of smoke whereas out strolling.
Bicester resident Janine McKenna Jones, 48, described seeing “black ash” close to her house following the deadly hearth. “It felt very apocalyptic, if that makes sense, because you see the sky and there’s this big black cloud of smoke,” she mentioned.
Historic England claims the well-known airfield is “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in Britain. Having served as RAF Bomber Command in the course of the Second World War, it ceased to be a army web site in 2004.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the three deaths as “devastating”, including: “The bravery of our firefighters is astounding. Hoping those in hospital make a full and swift recovery.”
Describing the firefighting group as “heartbroken”, Sherine Wheeler, chief government of the Fire Fighters Charity, instructed BBC Radio Oxford: “It’s very rare and tragic to have the loss of two firefighters alongside a member of the public and I think the impact of that is being felt deeply.
“For a lot of people who serve in the fire service it brings the reality of the risks they hold crashing home.”
Additional reporting by PA
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bicester-fire-raf-base-victims-named-oxfordshire-b2752656.html