Six years after firefighters Geoff Wicker and Brian Wembridge were killed at Marlie Farm, the relatives of the deceased and the injured firefighters are still fighting for compensation.
Two firefighters were killed and a further nine firefighters were injured at an explosion at Marlie Farm on 3 December 2006. Six years on, the families and firefighters affected have still not received compensation. Legal costs for all parties involved have already run into millions of pounds.
Jim Parrott, FBU executive council member for the South-East, who attended the incident at Marlie Farm, said: “Six years ago today, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) sent their personnel to an emergency at Marlie Farm. An hour later two people were dead and others were injured.
“From evidence provided, I believe that East Sussex Fire Authority’s (ESFA) planning for any type of emergency at Marlie Farm was woefully inadequate. The consequences of this lack of planning meant that ESFRS’s initial response was too small and poorly resourced. ESFRS had not educated their personnel to understand the risks involved in explosives incidents or even to appreciate that fireworks are explosives. ESFRS had not practiced the basic firefighting skills necessary to protect firefighters and the public.
“In my opinion, ESFA are guilty of sending their personnel to Marlie Farm ill-prepared and poorly resourced for dealing with fires involving fireworks. The deaths and injuries should not have happened. Six years on the relatives of the deceased and the injured continue to pay the price of the authority’s failings.”
