Tributes for firefighters and father killed

Tributes have been pouring in following the deaths of two firefighters and a 57-year-old man in a fire at a business park in Oxfordshire.

Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, died while tackling the fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday evening. Father-of-two David Chester, who worked at the site and was from Bicester, was also killed. Two more firefighters remain in hospital with serious injuries.

Both Ms Logan and Mr Sadler were involved with the women’s team at Bicester Rugby Union Football Club, which said “their presence at the club will be massively missed”.

“Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to their families, friends and our members at this terrible time.”

Many floral tributes have also been left at Bicester fire station.

People are now being asked to lay flowers in the town’s Garth Park, with a book of condolence set to open at Garth House in the park from Monday.

Oxford City Council has lowered the city’s flag, flying over Oxford Town Hall, to half-mast in tribute.

St Laurence’s Church in Banbury Road, Caversfield, close to the site, said it had opened its doors “for anyone looking for a space for private prayer or for stillness and reflection” following the “tragic news”.

A book of condolence has also been opened at the church.

Both firefighters worked at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Mr Sadler was also part of the London Fire Brigade.

The London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, said Mr Sadler “exemplified courage and selflessness” and had been serving on retained duty at Bicester Fire Station.

He was a leading firefighter in Ealing, west London, and an instructor in breathing apparatus and fire behaviour at the Fire Service College.

Sherine Wheeler, chief executive of the Fire Fighter’s Charity, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday: “This tragedy is a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifices shown by firefighters every day.

“We are heartbroken by what has happened and I would like to extend my condolences to Jennie and Martyn’s families and also Dave Chester’s family and colleagues.

“Firefighters go to work every day knowing that there are risks but when something like this happens it brings that reality really crashing home.

“To lose two firefighters has a far-reaching impact across the whole of the fire service community.”

Bicester Motion, home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF Bicester.

It was formerly RAF Bomber Command in World War Two and became redundant in 2004.

Paying tribute to “the three lives that have been lost”, Bicester Motion chairman Daniel Geoghegan said the firefighters showcased “the epitome of selfless service” and had “gone above and beyond under unprecedented circumstances”.

Mr Geoghegan added that father-of-two Mr Chester, who ran family business Chesters & Sons, had “a long history with the estate”.

He said Mr Chester was “part of the fabric of our estate and a friend to us all”.

“He joined us 12 years ago when we first bought the site and, with his wife and two sons, has been a pillar of our whole business community.

“Whenever you had a question, you would ‘just ask Dave’, not just him but his whole family as they all cared about this place just as much as we do.

“Our whole community used to say that ‘Dave always had our back’. Yesterday, he was doing just that – the epitome of his selfless spirit,” he added.

The Chesters & Sons company website says its work at Bicester Motion “included carefully unearthing four buried wartime air raid shelters so as not to damage the structures to allow them to be renovated by another contractor”.

The fire was reported at about 18:30 BST on Thursday and rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site.

At its height, 10 fire crews were tackling the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Police have launched an unexplained death investigation, but are not currently treating it as a criminal matter.

Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the fire service in the county, said it recognised that “people may wish to pay their respects to those who have tragically died”.

“We would be grateful if anyone wishes to lay flowers that these are laid in Garth Park, Bicester rather than at fire stations or at Bicester Motion to avoid obstruction to the highways.”

The park, on Launton Road, is set to open from 07:30 to 21:00 BST daily.

From Monday, people can also sign the book of condolence between Monday to Thursday 09:00 to17:00 and Friday 09:00 to 16:00.

At the scene on Friday, Oxfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall was visibly emotional and spoke with “a heavy heart” when he confirmed the deaths.

He added: “Our thoughts are with the family friends and colleagues affected during this time.

“I’m immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multiagency response and the unwavering bravery demonstrated by the emergency services personnel.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, of Thames Valley Police, described the deaths as “an absolute tragedy” and said the thoughts of everyone at the force were with the families, friends and colleagues of those who had died.

Officers will remain at the scene for a number of days to ensure the public remain safe.