Next Wednesday – 6 September – marks 30 years since two firefighters lost their lives fighting one of the biggest fires that the city of Hereford has ever seen.
At its height, 130 firefighters using 23 pumping appliances were at the scene of the fire at a factory formerly known as ‘Sun Valley’. Among them were David Morris and John Davies who never made it out of the factory.
John Davies, who was 34, was a retained Firefighter from Leominster but, as he worked in Hereford, would often attend emergencies in the city.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old David Morris was a full-time Firefighter with 11 years’ service when he responded to the fire which started in a unit for defrosting meat.
Insulation panels in the factory ceiling meant smoke and flames travelled unnoticed through the roof space, setting fire to ceilings which collapsed.
On Wednesday at 11:44, exactly 30 years on from the time of the call about the fire, Hereford Fire Station crews will be holding a parade at the St Owen Street fire station.
Then, at the Lady Arbour Gardens at Hereford Cathedral at 3pm, dignitaries including the mayors of Leominster and Hereford, the chairman and vice-chairman of Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority and the Chief Fire Officer will attend a memorial parade when a wreath will be placed at the memorial plaque.
Close family members of David Morris and John Davies will also attend, as will members of the crews who attended the incident back in 1993.
