Tragedy at Leo’s Supermarket: Firefighter Fleur Lombard Lost in Blaze
On February 4, 1996, disaster struck Leo’s Supermarket in Staple Hill, Bristol. At 12:46 p.m., Avon Fire Brigade (now Avon Fire and Rescue Service) received a 999 call reporting a fire at the store.
Two fire engines were immediately dispatched. On arrival, smoke poured from the building, prompting the officer in charge to request reinforcements: “Make Pumps 4”. With reports of people trapped inside, firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus began a search.
Inside the Inferno: Heroic Rescue Attempt
Among the crew searching the blazing supermarket were Fleur Lombard and firefighter Robert Seaman. As conditions worsened rapidly due to a flashover, the pair attempted to retreat. While Seaman escaped the swirling heat and smoke, Fleur became trapped and lost.
Despite the intense blaze, Seaman bravely re-entered the building with another firefighter in search of Fleur. They found her near an exit. She was rushed to hospital but sadly died shortly after.
By 13:11, the fire control urgently called for six pumps and a hydraulic platform. Later, that call escalated to ten pumps. It wasn’t until 16:43 that the fierce fire was finally extinguished.
Arson and Aftermath: A Dark Day for UK Firefighters
Investigations revealed the fire was deliberately set by a 21-year-old security guard on his first day at Leo’s. He was convicted of manslaughter and arson at Exeter Crown Court and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Fleur Lombard was the first female firefighter to die in peacetime service in the UK. Her loss sent shockwaves through the fire community.
Honouring a Fallen Hero
- Fleur was given a full brigade funeral at Derby Cathedral, with her coffin carried on a turntable ladder draped in the Union Jack and topped with her helmet. Her colleagues formed a guard of honour.
- She was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM).
- Firefighter Robert Seaman received the George Medal for his courageous return to the flames.
- Pat Foley, who also helped during the blaze, earned the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.
- In 2019, Great Western Railway named a Class 800 intercity express train “Firefighter Fleur Lombard QGM” in her memory.
On this solemn anniversary, our thoughts are with Fleur’s family, friends, and fellow firefighters. Though she is no longer with us, Fleur Lombard’s bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
