Hero firefighters killed in blaze at ex-RAF base are pictured as tributes pour in

16 May 2025, 20:13 | Updated: 17 May 2025, 12:34

The two firefighters and a member of the public who tragically died in a blaze in Bicester yesterday have been named by police.

The firefighters who died are Jennie Logan, 30, of Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, and Martyn Sadler, 38, of both Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue and The London Fire Brigade.

The member of public who died is David Chester, 57, from Bicester.

Two other firefighters were injured tackling the blaze and are being treated in hospital.

Dozens of firefighters were sent to the fire which broke out around 6.30pm yesterday evening at a motoring and aviation heritage site in Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police have launched an unexplained death investigation, led by the Major Crime Team. It is currently not being treated as a criminal investigation.

Tributes have been pouring in for the three people killed. The London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, said Mr Sadler “exemplified courage and selflessness” and was serving on retained duty at Bicester Fire Station.

He described him as “a well-respected and much-loved colleague who exemplified courage and selflessness in the service of others”.

He was a leading firefighter in Ealing, west London, and an instructor in breathing apparatus and fire behaviour at the Fire Service College.

Ms Logan was involved in the Bicester Rugby Union Football Club women’s Vixens team. BRUFC said in a post on social media that “their presence at the club will be massively missed”.

Mr Chester’s family-run groundworks and fencing company had been working at the former RAF base on behalf of English Heritage and Bicester Heritage, according to the Chester and Sons website.

The company website says its work at Bicester Motion “included carefully unearthing four buried wartime air raid shelters so as not to damage the structures to allow them to be renovated by another contractor”.

Bicester Motion’s chief executive Daniel Geoghegan said Mr Chester had been “a pillar of our whole business community” along with his wife and two sons.

The father “had a long history with the estate – indeed from man and boy”, having joined Bicester Motion when it first bought the site 12 years ago, he added.

The statement continued: “We considered him a member of our team, part of the fabric of our estate and a friend to us all.

“Whenever you had a question, you would ‘just ask Dave’, not just him but his whole family as they all cared about this place just as much as we do.

“Our whole community used to say that ‘Dave always had our back.’ Yesterday, he was doing just that – the epitome of his selfless spirit.”

Read more: Leading London officer one of two firefighters to die in Bicester RAF base blaze - along with member of the public

Read more: Two firefighters and a member of the public die after fire rips through former RAF base in Bicester

Speaking to LBC on Friday morning, local resident Jane described the fire as "huge" and said the scale of it was unlike anything she'd seen before.

She said: "The amount of the smell and the blackness of the smoke was horrific — we’ve never experienced anything like it."

The fire and rescue service is still at the scene, dampening down the fire. Once the scene is safe, investigators will be able to carry out enquiries at the location.

A large number of floral tributes have now been laid outside Bicester fire station.

Cards read: “Our hearts have broken for the loss of two heroes. All our love and prayers.

“With deepest sympathy and condolences to the friends, family, loved ones and colleagues."

A message left from Thames Valley Police reads: “To my Red Light Family, in memory of two heroes. With deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to family and friends. Always in our thoughts, your Blue Light Family (TVP)”

Assistant Chief Constable at Thames Valley Police, Tim Metcalfe, said: “This is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police are with the families, friends and colleagues of Jennie Logan of the Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, Martyn Sadler of the London Fire Brigade, and member of the public, David Chester, who have died in this incident.”

Sir Keir Starmer said news of the deaths of the two firefighters was “devastating".

The Prime Minister added: "The bravery of our firefighters is astounding.”

MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller said in a statement: “I am heartbroken to learn that three people lost their lives in the fire yesterday at Bicester Motion.

“My deep condolences go to the family and friends who are now grieving their loss.

“I want to pay tribute to the bravery of our firefighters and emergency services. It is terrible that two fire officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“The death of colleagues will be felt by all in the fire service family and I am holding them in my thoughts. This is a devastating moment for our community. I know it will express its support and care for all those affected.”

A GoFundMe has been started by Daniel Chartrand from the area, hoping to raise funds for the affected families. More than £800 has been raised so far.

Due to the volume of flowers and tributes being left outside Bicester Fire Station, residents are now being asked to leave flowers at Garth Park as to not cause any public obstruction.

Duncan Eames, photographer for Bicester Rugby Union Football Club, has said he was "heartbroken" when he saw Jennie's name among the victims listed on the news.

Mr Eames got to know Jennie through photographing her and her team. He shared some of the photos he took of her in a tribute.