Tributes have poured in for two firefighters and a member of the public who died in a huge blaze at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire.
Firefighters Jennie Logan, aged 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, were both killed along with 57-year-old David Chester after a massive fire ripped through what is now the Bicester Motion business park at 6.30pm on Thursday.
Ten fire crews rushed to the inferno at the former RAF Bicester, where several businesses now restore classic cars and planes, and workers were evacuated from the scene, as neighbours reported multiple explosions and clouds of dense black smoke.
A close friend of Ms Logan, and a fellow firefighter, posted on social media that she had “begged” for the tragic news not to be about the 30-year-old.
“I hoped it wasn’t true, I begged it wasn’t. I can dry my tears and remember you but I can never get you back. You were my rock and I didn’t even realise how much until you were gone.
“Who will I call names and laugh at for being silly? Who will laugh at me and say it right back?
“I’ve never met anyone like you Jen, it’s not fair. Life is cruel but now everyone can be proud of the hero that I saw, that I heard, that I hugged.”
Mr Sadler’s cousin David described the death of his family member as a “devastating loss”. “Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming number of messages following the devastating loss of my cousin, colleague, role model and hero Martyn Sadler at the fire in Bicester last night,” he wrote on social media.
The Bicester Rugby Union Football Club, with which both Ms Logan and Mr Sadler were involved, said the presence of both firefighters would be “massively missed”.
“Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to their families, friends and our members at this terrible time,” they wrote.
The chairman of Bicester Motion, home to more than 50 specialist businesses, described Mr Chester as being “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,” said Daniel Geoghegan.
“Our whole community used to say that ‘Dave always had our back’. Yesterday, he was doing just that – the epitome of his selfless spirit.”
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 flew the city’s flag over Oxford Town Hall at half-mast in tribute to the deceased.
St Laurence’s Church, close to the site, has also opened a book of condolence. They said they had opened their doors “for anyone looking for a space for private prayer or for stillness and reflection”.
In a statement on Friday evening, Thames Valley Police said the families of the two firefighters and Chester were being supported by specially trained officers.
Police said both firefighters worked at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) and Sadler was also part of the London Fire Brigade. He was described by the capital’s fire chief as a leading member of staff on retained duty in Oxfordshire.
The force has launched an unexplained death probe, but it is “currently not a criminal investigation”, said assistant chief constable Tim Metcalfe.
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.”
Commissioner Andy Roe, head of the London Fire Brigade, said Sadler “exemplified courage and selflessness”, adding: “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.”
Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, left the House of Commons early on Friday (May 16) to support those on the ground.
Speaking outside Bicester Motion, he said: “This is just devastating news for this community, and my heart goes out to the families and friends and colleagues of the three people who have lost their lives overnight.”
Two further OFRS firefighters suffered serious injuries and are in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council previously said.
Marjorie Neasham Glasgow, the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, said the King would want to “pass on his sincerest condolences to all those affected”.
Bouquets were laid under the Bicester Motion sign outside the former RAF base, where a heavy police presence remained in place.
A handwritten note read: “Thank you for your service. Our hearts are with the services and families.” The note featured hand-drawn pictures of an ambulance, police officer, doctor, and firefighter.
Another card read: “Our hearts have broken for the loss of two heroes. All our love and prayers.”
With his voice breaking and appearing to fight back tears, Oxfordshire’s chief fire officer, Rob MacDougall, told reporters at 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 the first people at the site of the fire described how fire brigades “poured in” to the site amid thick smoke. Fatih Ozzoksel, known as Ozzy, said he saw “massive plumes of smoke” from his garden on Thursday night and went straight to the site.
“The smoke was unreal, I couldn’t breathe,” the 54-year-old owner of Ozzy Engineers told 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 said he “had never seen anything like this” in his life, adding: “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 opposite the site, said he heard “multiple bangs” and saw a plume of smoke while out walking.
Historic England claims the famous airfield is “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in Britain. Having served as RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War, it ceased to be a military site in 2004.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the three deaths as “devastating”, adding: “The bravery of our firefighters is astounding. Hoping those in hospital make a full and swift recovery.”
Additional reporting by PA
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