11-02-2017, 05:15 PM
REMEMBERING: Today we remember firefighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley, who ten years ago today on the evening of the 2nd of November 2007, lost their lives in the line of duty, whilst carrying out firefighting duties at a fire in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire.
On the evening of the 2nd of November 2007, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call at approximately 17:35hrs, reporting a fire at a vegetable packing plant in Atherstone-on-Stour which covered the size of four football pitches.
Initially two fire appliances from Stratford-upon-Avon were mobilised to the incident. Due to the size of the building, difficulty in locating the scene of the fire and the growth of the fire, a total of sixteen fire appliances, together with aerial appliances and other specialist appliances attended the incident, totalling approximately 100 firefighters.
During firefighting operations a breathing apparatus emergency was declared, when a team of four firefighters were reported missing within the building.
Further teams of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were committed into the building to attempt to locate and rescue their missing colleagues, whilst working in near zero visibility and rapidly increasing temperatures.
Firefighter Ian Reid was located and rescued from the building by emergency crews, he was transported to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
Due to a partial structural collapse of the building and the rapid increase in the size and intensity of fire, all other crews had to be withdrawn from the building.
Tragically due to the dangerous condition of the building the bodies of John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley were not recovered until the 6th of November, and the fire not fully extinguished for a further day afterwards.
Following a joint Fire Service and Police investigation into the cause of the fire, it was determined to of been started deliberately by an unknown person, by the application of a naked flame to combustible material, that was located at the end of the a large store room on the first floor in the centre of the building.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of Ian, John, Ashley and Darren, their friends and colleagues on this sad day.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends”. John 15:13
Gone but never to be forgotten.
On the evening of the 2nd of November 2007, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call at approximately 17:35hrs, reporting a fire at a vegetable packing plant in Atherstone-on-Stour which covered the size of four football pitches.
Initially two fire appliances from Stratford-upon-Avon were mobilised to the incident. Due to the size of the building, difficulty in locating the scene of the fire and the growth of the fire, a total of sixteen fire appliances, together with aerial appliances and other specialist appliances attended the incident, totalling approximately 100 firefighters.
During firefighting operations a breathing apparatus emergency was declared, when a team of four firefighters were reported missing within the building.
Further teams of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were committed into the building to attempt to locate and rescue their missing colleagues, whilst working in near zero visibility and rapidly increasing temperatures.
Firefighter Ian Reid was located and rescued from the building by emergency crews, he was transported to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
Due to a partial structural collapse of the building and the rapid increase in the size and intensity of fire, all other crews had to be withdrawn from the building.
Tragically due to the dangerous condition of the building the bodies of John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley were not recovered until the 6th of November, and the fire not fully extinguished for a further day afterwards.
Following a joint Fire Service and Police investigation into the cause of the fire, it was determined to of been started deliberately by an unknown person, by the application of a naked flame to combustible material, that was located at the end of the a large store room on the first floor in the centre of the building.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of Ian, John, Ashley and Darren, their friends and colleagues on this sad day.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends”. John 15:13
Gone but never to be forgotten.
![[Image: 72722432_546367019495848_152576997350965...e=5E5F2A26]](https://scontent.fbhx2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72722432_546367019495848_1525769973509652480_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_eui2=AeH1O8xhqEgsfCEavHvXRaHG8ZaMrE0qA0kv-xpCrRQVh509f1fcbiAjGqsAkrqh55pnyv58RdDDXU74TXyAWXiaTd7pOPJgyhv3Sar59cnHgg&_nc_oc=AQm_NZLy8n0KgdbxybgDWprFB8YcYTCiEf6Pbvqllnt16XKxIKtECITw_GVvBX3__o8&_nc_ht=scontent.fbhx2-1.fna&oh=09e52ac6cb8f129605b9b9f381fbdf41&oe=5E5F2A26)
