Bodies of Three Missing FBU Fire Fighters Found

November 8, 2007 – More than 200 fire fighters lined up outside the burned remains of the Atherstone on Stour, vegetable packing plant in Warwickshire, England, as the bodies of three of their fellow fire fighters were carried out of the building November 7.

FBU fire fighters Ashley Stephens, 20; Darren Yates-Badley, 24; and John Averis, 27; went missing after the roof collapsed during the November 2 fire. A fourth fire fighter –Ian Reid, 44 – involved in the accident was pulled out alive soon after the fire, but later succumbed to his injuries.

Rescue teams had found one of the bodies when high winds caused part of the fire-ravaged building to shift. The search for the other two had to be temporarily called off until the building could be stabilized. However, the search teams were able to go back in and find the other two.

“This is the worst loss the fire service has faced in decades,” says Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary. “Our service is traumatized by what has happened. Local and National FBU officials are looking at all health and safety issues related to this incident.”

“The lessons of the fire at Atherstone on Stour must be learned so that we may never again experience such a tragedy in Warwickshire or elsewhere in the UK fire service,” says Tom Conn, Warkwickshire FBU brigade secretary.

Thorough investigations of the incident are planned by the FBU, the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Health and Safety Executive and police. FBU’s investigation will be led by FBU National Officer John McGhee, Regional Safety Coordinator Pete Goulden, Brigade Safety Representative Marcus Giles, Executive Council Member Dave Whatton and other regional officials.

Meanwhile, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service held a bucket collection at an area shopping center, raising more than ₤3,000 (nearly $6,500) for the families of the four fallen fire fighters.

To post condolences or make a donation to the Warwickshire Firefighters Families Fund, visit the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue web site.
 

Two Bodies Found at British Warehouse Fire Scene

November 6, 2007 -- Search teams believe they have found two bodies from the Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, vegetable packing plant fire in England. Their names have not been released, but at least one is believed to be one of the missing three fire fighters.

Fire Brigades Union fire fighters are hopeful that their fellow union members will be pulled out soon, but say they understand that those involved in the investigation and recovery must move forward cautiously.

“Search and rescue teams are going to have to go in very carefully to ensure that if it is a crime scene, potential evidence is preserved,” says Duncan Milligan, spokesperson for FBU. “They also are very aware that their colleagues are in there. We want to get them out as quickly as possible but also with the dignity that they deserve.

FBU fire fighter Ian Reid was pulled from the vegetable packing plant fire soon after part of the warehouse’s roof collapsed on him and three others:  Darren Yates-Badley, Ashley Stephens, and John Averis. Reid later died at the hospital and the fates of Yates-Badley, Stephens and Averis remain uncertain.

It has been four days since the fire broke out. As many as 200 fire fighters and emergency service personnel have been involved in the search operation, and 140 police personnel are working on the investigation at the warehouse. Police are treating the fire as suspicious.
 

One Fallen Fire Fighter, Three Missing in England Fire

November 5, 2007 -- One Fire Brigades Union (FBU) fire fighter was killed and three more are missing in the aftermath of a huge warehouse fire in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, England. Fire fighters are hopeful they will find the missing today.

“We are devastated by the loss of our colleague who died in the line of duty in Warwickshire,” says Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary. “We are deeply concerned about the three fire fighters who remain missing. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of our colleague who has died, and with those families whose loved ones remain missing.”

“On behalf of myself, our entire Executive Board and the 281,000 members of the IAFF, I extend profound condolences on the terrible loss of your four members in this deadly warehouse fire,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Our thoughts and prayers are with your members, the families of your fallen and the officers of the FBU.”

The fallen fire fighter has been identified as Ian Reid, 44. The three missing men are Ashley Stephens, 21; Darren Yates-Badley, 24; and John Averis, 27.

The four fire fighters responded to the Wealmoor vegetable packing plant, the largest in Europe, November 2 with approximately 96 other fire fighters. At the height of the fire, flames reached hundreds of feet high. No word yet on what may have caused the blaze. The warehouse was not fitted with a sprinkler system.

Initial analysis of the scene suggests that part of the roof of the building collapsed on the four fire fighters while they were most likely searching for warehouse employees.

If the three missing FBU fire fighters are confirmed dead, the incident will be the biggest loss for the union since seven died in a Glasgow fire 35 years ago.

The death of Reid and possibly three others add do what FBU officials say is a sharp increase in fire fighter fatalities across the United Kingdom, which they believe is due to inadequate training in basic fire fighting skills.
"There's been a decrease in the hours spent in practical training," says John McGhee, FBU national health and safety officer. "And in our view that's a contributory factor in fire fighters' death. There needs to be greater balance between fire prevention and intervention."