Firefighter's lasting legacy 30 years after death

A campaigner and a former colleague of a firefighter who died during an incident 30 years ago have said she has left a 'lasting legacy'.

Fleur Lombard, 21, who started her career as a firefighter in Whaley Bridge, died in a fire at Leo's supermarket in Bristol on 4 February 1996.

Her death proved to be a catalyst for safety improvements including new rules which required all supermarkets to install sprinkler systems and safer fireproof equipment for firefighters.

Fleur's sister Bex will lay a wreath at a memorial in Bristol today with her Dad Roger and son Roan.

Fleur died after she was caught in 'flashover', where a fire quickly engulfs a building, as she made her way out of the supermarket.

She was the first female firefighter to die during a deployment since World War Two.

Her family, unions and the fire service then lobbied for changes to be made to shops following her death, which in 2007 led to a change in building regulations which made it mandatory for supermarkets to have sprinkler systems.

Ruth George, who worked for the shopworkers union USDAW, was part of the campaign.

She said: "They (the family) did so much at a time which must have been so terrible for them - just to make sure she had that legacy and her death had real meaning to make sure that all of us in this country are safer when we go shopping and particularly for people who work in the fire services and shops."

The investigation into the fire at Leo's Supermarket also led to new safety recommendations on firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which have since been put into place.

Firefighters today are now measured individually for their protective fire suits, which used to only be tested on male-shaped manikins, but are now tested on female-shaped manikins too.

The change has meant all firefighters' suits have a better fit, which is considered safer because parts of the body are at more risk of burns in places where fire suits fit more tightly.

Former South Yorkshire Fire Chief Alex Johnson, who was a friend and colleague of Fleur, said the changes to PPE and its testing have made a real difference.

"When we joined in the early 90s fire kit was fire kit - it was men's kit and I don't think anyone had considered that women are different shapes," she added.

The 21-year-old was posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal in recognition of her bravery in 1998.

While Bex received an Elizabeth Emblem, which commemorates public servants who died in service, from the King in November 2024.

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