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.