The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed that one of the two firefighters tragically killed in the devastating blaze at a former RAF base in Bicester, Oxfordshire, was a London Leading Firefighter/Sub Officer serving on retained duty with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire, which broke out on the evening of Thursday, May 15, also claimed the life of a member of the public and left two firefighters hospitalised.
“Following the terrible news from Oxfordshire… it is with great sadness that I can confirm that one of those who lost their lives is a London Leading Firefighter/Sub Officer,” the LFB said in a public statement issued Friday morning.
The London Fire Brigade has expressed its deep sorrow and solidarity with the affected families, friends, and fellow fire crews.
“We are devastated by the loss of our colleague… We are working closely with our counterparts in Oxfordshire, providing support to the family and our crews affected by this tragic loss.”
The LFB added that their “sincere condolences” also go to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which also lost one of its firefighters in the same incident. Two others remain hospitalised.
The identities of the victims have not yet been publicly released. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, and more details are expected in the coming days.
The fire broke out at Bicester Motion, a site that occupies a former RAF base in Oxfordshire and now houses commercial and heritage transport enterprises.
This marks one of the most tragic incidents for UK fire services in recent years and has prompted an outpouring of tributes across social media.
