The fire department suffered the deadliest day for 15 years due to the death of two firefighters, while two other firefighters were seriously injured in the fire at the former RAF base.
Hell of the 444-acre automotive complex in Bicester, Oxfordshire, claimed the lives of Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, of the Service Bureau.
David Chester, a 57-year-old civilian from Bicester, also died in hell.
During the “Apocalypse” fire, the flames ignited the sky above the town. Smoke and ash are visible for miles and residents in the area are urged to stay indoors and close windows.
In the emotional scene, the chief fire officer of the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Department confirmed the tragic loss on the scene yesterday, repelling tears.
Rob MacDougall paused his composition, saying he was “very proud and grateful” of the “unwavering heroism” shown by emergency services.
He added: “Today, we reported the losses of two fire officials. One public also died sadly in the incident.
“Two other firefighters were seriously injured and are currently in the hospital.”
Hell of the 444-acre car complex in Oxfordshire Bicester
Jennie Logan, 30, died in the fire
Martyn Sadler, 38, also died in Inferno
This is the deadliest incident in the fire department since the 2010 Sherita tragedy.
The latest tragedy has led to a surge of sadness, which the Prime Minister describes as “destructive.”
‘The heroism of our firefighters is shocking. Hopefully, people in the hospital can recover quickly and fully,” Sir Keir Starmer said on X.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the fire a “absolutely fearful event” and said she hopes investigations reveal the cause of the deadly hell.
“My heart does everything to the families of those who have lost their lives…I hope we can completely get caught up in the goal of causing this state and make sure it doesn’t happen again. ”
Fire stations up and down the country lowered the flag to half the mast and kept the silence for two minutes to commemorate their fallen colleagues.
It is not known what caused the fierce fire, but Thames Valley police have launched an unexplained death investigation. However, the unit said it was “not a criminal investigation at the moment.”
Sherine Wheeler, CEO of Firefighters Charity, said the entire fire community was “heartbroken.”
Public members left flowers on May 16, 2025 at the scene of the Bister Sports Building in Bister, Oxfordshire
The site is home to over 50 professional businesses that are recovering classic cars
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Services Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall speaks to the media outside at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire
“It is very rare and tragic to lose two firefighters with the public and I think the impact is being deeply felt,” she said.
National Fire Service Commissioner Philip Garrigan said he had “devastating”, adding: “Our firefighters are the best of us and their courage and compassion are what makes them very special.”
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said the victim Sadler, a leading firefighter and sub-official in London, holds a post with the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Department (OFRS).
He added: “We are shocked by the loss of colleagues and our minds are still with the families and friends of all the people affected by this incident.”
Ten crew members were asked to resolve hell at 6.39 p.m. Thursday. Smoke can be seen throughout the town and in the north of Oxford – residents report explosions, burning odors and the sound of raining ashes.
Julie Stocker recalls the flames and noise she saw in the house across the site. “We could hear the cracks from the fire and then obviously hear all kinds of explosions and things…the smoke was high.
“We were told to close doors and windows because asbestos may exist on the roof.”
Janine McKenna Jones, 48, described seeing “black grey” near her home, adding: “It feels very revelatory because you see the sky and there’s such a big black smoke.” Jake Bushen, 19, said: “The biggest fire I’ve ever seen in my life. I saw it at about 7.30 a.m. It’s going into the horizon. It’s horrible.
David Chester, 57, from Bicester (pictured), also died in the horrific fire. He is described as having a “selfless spirit”
Two firefighters and a public were killed last night
Thames Valley Police have confirmed that 38-year-old hero firefighter Martyn Sadler, who is firefighting and serving in Oxford County Council, died yesterday in a fire in Bicester
Jennie Logan, 30, was one of the brave firefighters who died yesterday in the Bicester fire
Another local, Toby Roberts, added: “I saw smoke on all the other side of Bicester in the White Islands. There were alarms everywhere exploding…I lived in Bicester all my life and had never seen anything like that.
The bouquet was placed outside the compound, and by Friday afternoon, the fire was “controlled” but there were still a large number of police officers present.
A poignant message left by Thames Valley police read: “To my red light family, to honor the two heroes.”
Formerly known as Bicester Heritage, the site is home to over 50 professional businesses focusing on classic car restoration and engineering. The Bicester motion said in a statement that the victim, Mr. Chester, was a “confidant” of the location.
“No words…but our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. We pray for the two firefighters in the hospital. The courage demonstrated by the emergency service team has been overwhelming. In this unprecedented situation, we thank all the support and excellence of all of our people.”
