Fire service explains minute silence during hospital fire

Firefighters stopped and observed one minute of silence while tackling a blaze at St Michael's Hill Hospital

Avon Fire and Rescue Service has explained why its firefighters stopped for a minute during a fire at St Michael's Hospital.

The blaze, caused by a fault in the solar panels on the roof of the building, caused huge plumed of black smoke to be seen across Bristol and resulted in a widespread evacuation of the hospital building.

Countless staff and patients, including expecting parents, were evacuated from the building on Thursday afternoon (May 22).

Photos and videos taken at the scene reveal a huge emergency service response rushed to the blaze but, despite the ongoing incident, at 6.39pm, firefighters stopped for one minute.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said fire crews observed one minute silence in honour of the deaths during the major blaze in Bicester last week.

The moment was held one week to the minute of the first call about the tragic blaze which took the lives of two firefighters and a Bicester resident.

Firefighters Jennie Logan, aged 30, and Martyn Sadler, aged 38, and David Chester, aged 57, from Bicester died in the fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday, May 15.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: "Yesterday (Thursday 22 May), marked one week since the major incident at Bicester, where we tragically lost Jennie and Martyn of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and a member of the local community in Bicester, Dave.

"The minute’s silence was held at 6:39pm yesterday evening, one week on from the time of the first call to the incident. Firefighters and staff across the Service observed the minute’s silence to honour their memory and to pay their respects.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the families, friends, and colleagues of those who have sadly been lost, and with everyone at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who will be deeply affected by this heart-breaking event."

St Michael's Hospital has reopened to the vast majority of patients following yesterday's fire.

The Hospital Managing Director in the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Stuart Walker, said: "Following a fire on the roof of St Michael’s Hospital yesterday afternoon (Thursday, May 22), we can confirm the hospital is open and services are running.

“A very small number of planned appointments have been rescheduled.

"Those affected by this have been contacted directly.

"If you have an appointment, please attend it unless you hear from us.

“The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including the delivery suite.

“Thank you to our amazing colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe.”