One member of the public and two fire fighters have died at a fire at the UK’s Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire, in one of the former aircraft hangars that’s used to store vehicles and spares. Another two fire fighters were seriously injured.
The deceased member of the public has been named as Dave Chester, 57, of the family run Chester & Sons groundworks and fencing company, which had been working at the former RAF base on behalf of English Heritage and Bicester Heritage for many years. The firefighters who died are Jennie Logan, aged 30, of Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, and Martyn Sadler, aged 38, of both Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service and the London Fire Brigade.
The fire is understood to have started just after 6:00pm on Thursday May 15, 2025, with nearby residents describing thick smoke, ash falling from the sky and “loud explosions”, according to the Bicester Advertiser. Helicopters were seen flying over the site, and people living nearby were warned to keep doors and windows shut.
Ten fire crews plus ambulance and police vehicles were all seen racing towards the site, the historic part of the Bicester Motion complex.
The fire has destroyed Building 79, one of the two smaller hangars on the site, used for storage of vehicles – not to be confused with the larger Historit storage hangar (108) or the large events hangar (113), which are unaffected. Building 79 can be seen on the left-hand side of this map from a 2022 event at the site, showing that the hangar is a short distance from the surrounding buildings, which are understood to be unaffected.
A short video on the BBC website shows the extent of the blaze.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyven03y0go
Daniel Geoghegan, CEO, Bicester Motion issued the following statement: “The last 24 hours have been tragic in so many ways. For the families of those we have lost, the incredible and brave emergency services who have worked tirelessly, our team who has worked relentlessly and the wider Bicester and Oxfordshire community, which has shown the most generous support and kindness.
“I wanted to first pay tribute to the three lives that have been lost. To Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler, the two firefighters who so bravely tackled the scene. The epitome of selfless service.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. They have gone above and beyond under unprecedented circumstances. No words can ever make up for what has happened, but they are all very much in our hearts.
“And to Dave Chester, who ran Chesters & Sons his family business, who has had a long history with the estate – indeed from man and boy. He joined us 12 years ago when we first bought the site and, with his wife and two sons, has been a pillar of our whole business community.
“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. We will cherish you Dave and you will be sorely missed, and we send our utmost love to Sue, Jordan and Riley.
“We continue to pray for the two firefighters in hospital. Today we mourn together as a whole community and as an extended family. We will always remember with love those who selflessly served.
“Thank you everyone for your support.”
Bicester Heritage opened in 2013 as a hub for the UK’s classic car movement, on the site of a former RAF bomber base that had been neglected for almost 40 years. The derelict historic buildings have gradually been restored to house many of the world’s leading classic car specialists, with further new buildings added to the site.
With the expansion came a new name for the wider business, Bicester Motion, encompassing new developments for technology and modern automotive businesses. It’s one of the UK’s great success stories, attracting major automotive manufacturers and specialists, and holding successful events such as the Scramble and Flywheel.
