11 December 2007

Area Manager Denis O'Driscoll, who co-ordinated the work of the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams following last month's Warwickshire warehouse fire, has been presented with a Chief Fire Officer's Letter of Commendation.

Denis, who lives in Winslow, had principal responsibility for establishing a USAR sector at the incident and ensuring that USAR personnel could gain safe access to the premises and conduct a detailed search for the three missing firefighters.

Denis, Area Manager Response based at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's headquarters in Aylesbury, spent four days at the scene of the incident, working closely with the police and the Health & Safety Executive.

He was presented with his Letter of Commendation by Mrs Jenny Hopkirk, Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, at a ceremony at the Civic Centre in Aylesbury on Friday. The presentation is pictured above.

It was also attended by Mrs Amanda Nicholson, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Cllr David Rowlands, Chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire & Rescue Authority, and Damian Smith, Chief Fire Officer, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service.

The citation on the framed letter, from Chief Fire Officer Damian Smith, reads: "In recognition of the leadership, professionalism and commitment demonstrated whilst attending an incident in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, over the period 3rd to 6th November 2007."

Four firefighters from Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service lost their lives in the fire. Firefighter Ian Reid died in hospital after being pulled from the burning warehouse, and the bodies of Darren Yates-Badley, Ashley Stephens and John Averis were brought out four days later after a painstaking search by USAR personnel.