Features

felix
well seen as my uncle was there at the time and two of his mates died in that fire its a really serious subject for me and it still upsets me now

Andy
"Gott möge euren Seelen gnädig sein!" Rest in Peace Firefighter Germany

Haley
rip

ljiljana
this is a very sad and sorry

stephen
i am so sorry

theresa
im sorryx

tom stephen
sorry

stephen linge
im so sorry for what happend to the flat

Roy Lawrenson, CEO, Fire Services National Benevol
Here at the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund, we were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of the two firefighters – Michael Miller and Jeff Wornham – in the tragic incident at Stevenage. Tragedies like these, make us even more determined to ensure we will provide all our beneficiaries with our love and support, to help them through their times of need. We would like to assure the bereaved familes, colleagues and Fire Service personnel, that we are here for you, and will support in any way we can.

NATS
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE

Viquey
I'm so sorry to the families, friends and colleagues of Jeff & Michael. They can all be so proud of the accomplishment made by those two brave and selfless men. I have a firefighter family background and I know that although the firefighters and the families accept the fact that anything can happen whilst they're doing the job, they certainly don't expect it. i know how devestated i would be if i lost my boyfriend or Dad in such an horrific way and i would like to send my heartfelt condolences to all affected by this tragedy. i would also like to express my pride of my boyfriend and my Dad for the years they've given to the service and all there colleagues who as one big family do the job they do, despite the risks. You will be very sadly missed Michael and Jeff and you will never be forgotten.

Ff Chris Hollis, Oxfordshire FRS
I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of my two Hertfordshire colleagues and the lady they were attempting to rescue. My deepest sympathies go to their families and to the colleagues of Michael and Jeff. Sadly, it took the deaths of two firefighters to make this incident front page news, yet on average there are over 600 fire deaths a year in the UK, each one equally tragic and many so preventable. We can only hope some good comes from this in the form of increased fire safety, particularly in buildings such as this. If lessons are not learned from this, a great disservice will have been done to two men who tragically lost their lives whilst providing a great service to their community. May you all rest in peace.

Geoff Cook USA and Early Riser corespondent
My heartfelt sympathy to the families, relatives and friends of those lost in this tragic fire.. I grew up in Penn Road, and watched Harrow and Brent Courts constuction so many years ago.. The pictures underline the horror of what happened.. Here in Rhode Island USA, we are just a week away from the tragic anniversary of our own nightmare fire which claimed 100 lives in a nightclub. We can feel your grief.

Alex Little
I went to school with Jeff, and am deeply saddened by the news of his death he truly was a lovely bloke. My sympathies and thoughts go out to the families of all that died.

Student @ Barclay School
We are all sorry to hear about the tragedy, but we are currently raising money for the families of the firefighters and hope that they will see the full support they have from all people in Stevenage.R.I.P Natalie. You were a wonderful person and it's a shame that it happened to you, just an innocent person who got caught up. It's great to see all the people of STevenage sticking together and supporting each other.

J (brent court resident)
Condolences to the families of the poor people who lost their lives in such a tragic way. I can only echo the hopes that this will make the council look at the management of Brent/Harrow court, instead of using it as a 'dumping ground' for people they don't want to deal with. I am resident at Brent Court and have noticed since the fire there has been a 24hr security guard on the reception there - Why does it take 3 deaths for this to be addressed?

People of Sri Lanka
We want to send our heartfelt condolences to your brave fire fighters who helped so many people in our country in the aftermath of the Tsunami. The generosity of the people of the United Kingdom was a humbling experience and we share your grief at this time. God Bless both fire fighters and the lady who died. May they rest in peace. They are true heroes and will always be remembered.

DIANA (NURSE)
MY JOB LIKE YOURS IS TO SAVE LIVES OF PEOPLE WE DO NOT KNOW EVERY DAY.THIS IS WHAT WE DO.IT IS NOT A JOB IT IS OUR LIFE SAVING LIVES.

paul bradley- cheshire f.s.
My sympathies go to the families of those who lost there lives. Especally the two firefighters doing the job they loved like we all do

Lee Slater, Stevenage
Obviously my prayers and sympathy go to Natalie, Michael and Jeff who lost their lives on that terrible February morning and to their families and friends, words can never say enough. I hope, and pray, that Stevenage Borough Council learn from this tragedy and make safety improvements to Brent and Harrow Courts which could prevent further tragedies. God bless and may they rest in peace.

Lisa Brigden, Stevenage
Natlie's son is one of my classmates and i just want to tell him everything will be o.k and at the moment he should be thinking about little dylan u need to look after him daryl as best as you can and i know you can under ur bubbly personality u r really caring n u will be able to look after ur brother easy as daz luv lisa

Firefighters of Tyne&Wear.
Sincere condolences to all affected by last weeks tragedy.You have to wonder how the polititians sleep at night after events such as this!

Hertfordshire County Council Employee
It has been a sad loss for Hertfordshire. My thoughts go to my two colleagues (brave heros), their families and friends, and to Natalie and her family and friends. God bless and may you rest in peace.

Lee, Stevenage
My sympathies and prayers go to those who lost their lost lives and their families. It's to late now for those who died but I think Stevenage Borough Council need to think hard about imporving safety in Brent and Harrow Court, Stevenage.

From all at Nicholas Breakspear
To the firefighters who died, they died helping someone. It hurts to know that Michael Miller and Mr Wornham. Also to Ricky Miller's family and friends. Ricky, we are so sorry and we will see you at school. Just to let you know that we are praying and caring for you.

Lee Skone- Mid & West Wales FRS
No matter what people may think or say about the Fire Service, or whatever state it may currently be in. We, the Firefighters will always turn out "on the bell" to help those who are in need. These two collegues are the opitomy of what the Fire Service is about. Deepest sympathies to all the familes involved and our collegues in HFRS. R.I.P Mick and Jeff, you did your job.

Alan Allmark WMFS ex HFRS
Nothing I write here can really sum up how sad & shocked this terrible tragedy makes me feel. I cannot imagine what the loved ones, families & friends of Mick, Jeff & Natalie are going throu right now. My deepest condolances go out to you all.

jamie tippett
i am really sorry about the news. i cant imagine what u must be thinking right of now. any way i hope to see u at school. me and all ur m8's will b here for u. see u soon from jamie

A Friend of Daryl Close
It's such a shame what happened to your mum daryl we are all thinking of you and hope you are o.k. hope to see you soon. R.I.P Natalie.

White Watch Cambridge Fire Station
This tragic event affects us all, our thoughts are with the families and friends of our brave colleagues...There but for the grace of god go us all.

Jamie
I am heartbroken to hear of the terable tradgy which occured. I have great respect for those whom risk their lives to save others and strongly believe the Uk has their propities wrong. Heros like the ones who perished in this accident are never reworded enough. Footballers paly a sport they love and earn millions of pounds for it and the emergancy services risking their lives are on a basic wage maybe more then the average rate but never enough. The contrvesy about footballers, drunk, drugs and sex is because they have too much money and dont know what to do with it. how do they earn it?? they dont. Heros should be rewarded. Thank oyu to everyone who riskd their lives to save others and i am so sorry for the recent loss, my heart goes out to the family and friends involved.

Paula ex resident
I used to live on the 14th floor of Harrow court. When I read the story I could not believe it was true. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost thier lives.

Debbie, Stevenage
Mike, if it wasn't for you Rob would not have got through training school and be in the job he loves now. He has nothing but the utmost respect for you, always helping where you could and we will miss you dearly. Rest in peace. Love Deb and Rob xx

timmy whitton
its sad i feel 4 the firefighters families and the familie of the women perished

M.C.Ramanarayanan Kerala India
My wife and I had visited Stevenage three times nd have been overwhelmed by the courtesey and warmth of Stevenagers. We deeply condole with the families and friends of the deceased Ramanarayanan& Vasantha

Gavin
To all the Cheshunt Rugby boys who knew Miller.My thoughts are with you.I wish I wasn't in Australia right now but back home with you.I need to share a beer with you all.Miller you will always be a hero.

chris selley
i feel for you so much Daryl,i was so shocked when i heard about the bad news. i will be thinking about you and your family. hope to see you at school soon. chris

Greenall
Daryl mate i cant even imagine wot ur goin through, everyone at school is thinking of you mate were here for you whenever you need us! see you soon !

Cat
This Is Awful ! I Send Out My Sympathy To The Families And Friends Of The Ppl Who Died ..... RIP xxxxxxxxxxx

HFRS Colleague
We are all hurting, we are all proud to have served with you both, you will never be forgotten, Mick and Jeff, Rest In Peace .

steve
Steve and Angela Stevenage. Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Michael and Jeff,It doesn't seem that long ago since i saw Michael at his passing out display.God Bless and may they both rest in peace.

kathryn cassie lara chelsea
send our love to your familys and friends daryl we were so shoked that it happened to one of our closest friends mum love you lots see you at school hun love the gyallz

friend
I agree that we should reflect on our loss at the moment. IRMP had no impact on this tragic incident. Lets leave the politics until we have all grieved for our family, friends and colleagues. We owe it to them. In loving memory of Jeff Wornham and Mick Miller.

a HFRS colleague
RIP Jeff and Mick - absolute heroes - forever in our hearts. God bless to their families and my colleagues at this very difficult time xxx

Lee, Stevenage, UK
Its a sad thing when 2 brave souls die in the line of duty trying to save someone they do not know from a burning building. In Memory of All Who Perished

Mick, North Lincoln.
Deepest sympathy to families, friend and colleagues of those Firefighters who lost their lives in Stevenage from myself, my family,and the whole of the firefighters at North Lincoln Fire Station.

Angie
My deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of two very brave fire fighters, may you rest in peace

Chris / Retained Ff /Staffs
My deepest condolances go to the family and friends of these brave men.

w, hood
These fellow firefighters were doing what firefighters do everey day around the country and they have payed the ultimat price No greater love hath a man than he lays down his life for a friend" what greater love when he lays down his life for a stranger. we are thinking of you r.i.p.

glen radley
HEARING AGAIN THAT TWO OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE DIED AND A MEMBER OF OUR PUBLIC, HAS AGAIN SHOWN THE DEDICATION OF THE FIRE SRVICE.THE ULTIMATE SCRIFICE HAS BEEN PAID.ON BEHALF OF US ALL OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND MAY ALL THOSE REST IN PEACE. EDMONTON LFB.

paul hughes firefighter ,Australia
It is always a great loss when distant colleagues lose their lives trying to help those in need. Sit back and think about all the flack they got through the dispute, and how the spineless government just saw Firefighters as a financial liability, shame on you Mr Blair and Co. They would think differently if it happened to one of their political buddies.May they rest in peace from your distant brother. PH ex Berkshire

andy
no words can block out whats happened brave men may they rest in peace.

stacie ex resident of harrow court
Unbelivable, if only we could do something to stop hoax calls, then maybe things could have been different. god bless to the familes who have felt such tradgey.

Mick
My thoughts are with all the relatives and colleagues of those who lost their lives in Stevenage. PLEASE though, lets not use the incident and this web site as a political argument over IRMP. Lets allow everyone the time reflect on this tragic loss of life.

pete, west mids fire service
i was deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of 2 firefighters in HERTS, my deepest condolences go out to the families and coleagues of these brave souls. people have to start to waking up to the fact that although fire fighter deaths are rare, this is only because they are highly trained and dedicated people. firefighters attend fires like this every day around the country, but they rarely hit the national press unless some one dies. this is a sad state of affair because if the so called modernisation programe continues at the pace it is you will have more fire deaths due to the reduction of fire engines available will be drasticaly reduced. in the west midlands alone the cfo wants to reduce the fire cover between the hours of 12am-8am by 15 appliance. you ask any firefighter if they have ever been to a fatality in a fire before or after these times, the answer would more than likely be no.

Janice Smith / Leeds
Quote from the Deputy Chief Fire Officer. "I think firefighters across the country and firefighters in Hertfordshire are very professional, dedicated to what they do and they were doing their job to make Hertfordshire a safer place" ALL THIS DESPITE THE WAY THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE TREATED 2 YEARS AGO AND EVEN NOW WITH THIER PENSIONS. Fortunately Britain still has THE best Fire Service in the World and Fire fighters at grass root level, will continue to do their utmost to protect life and property. God bless them all. and deepest sympathy to all those involved in yesterdays tragedy..

Jillie Little
My thoughts are with the firefighters families and all the other firefighters who have been sadenned by the loss of the two brave men. Thinking of you all

Lewis Sumner of Fire Scene
I really hope the fire fighters get a funeral like they do in New York. May they rest in peace. The fire service community shares its grief with the family and colleagues of these.. " The Bravest ".

Ff Gavin Orr
Deepest condolences to the families of our fallen brothers, Micheal & Jeff. They paid the ultimate price doing a job they love, to protect the local community, God Bless them both. Rest Brothers. from all at East Kilbride Fire Station, Strathclyde.

Seb
My sincere condolences go to the families and to the fire serevice. You do a great job.

Stevie
A tragic loss of two fire fighters. A sombre day for Herts Fire and Rescue Service. My condolences to the families of the heroic firefighters who died and also to colleagues at HFRS who are feeling the loss of losing these brave men. Lets hope the local authority reconsider appliance cover during the night.

shane
it is a shock to the hole of stevenage and the fireservices . and the govenment say they will not up the pay up but the fireservices are risking there lives

George Evans
As a fire-fighter I am saddened to hear that two Hertfordshire fire-fighters and another member of the public have died in a fire at night especially as this was in a high rise residential block. All over the country Chief Fire Officers are downgrading their attendance to fire alarms and placing aerial appliances on request only to incidents which would normally have been on the initial turnout. Was it the Government that said during the pay dispute that fires dont happen at night therefore we need fewer fire-fighters at night? When are people going to realise that the modernisation now taking place in the fire service is nothing more than cuts to fund the recent pay settlement. After all it was self financing. My condolensces go out to the families of those involved in this sad incident.

Phil and Becky
Our deepest sympathy to the firefighters who lost their lives and our thoughts go out to all involved. a terrible tragedy.

Michael Curtis
I played cricket with Jeff and was with him only 2 weeks ago at nets. I won't forget his smile and laughter that night. My sympathy goes to his girlfriend and all those involved in the tragedy.

FF Ray Ahmun SWFRS
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH REST IN PEACE

Julie Rochford
My condolences go out to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives and to their work collegues

gary firefighter
how long before this government realises that they have the best fire service in the world. they seem to be doing their best to destroy what they have.god bless the brave guys from stevenage

Cliff
Heroes

paul
my family, colleagues and myself send our deepest condolences to the firefighters and their families following this tragic fire South yorkshire fire and rescue.

jamie norgan
my thoughts and sympathy go out to the families of the two firefighters who lost their lives earlier today always putting their lives at risk everyday and this is such a sad moment in life to lose them

Fire Fighter Nick Ringrose
Condolences from the USA. Fire fighters everywhere put their lives on the line. We feel your grief. Sound Beach Vol Fire Dept, Greenwich, CT. USA

paul stephens
The new goverment wight paper on the Fire service States: That Firefighting is not dangerous and no different to any normal everyday job. STILL THINCK THE SAME NOW????

Dave Smith, Grimsby
My condolences to the firefighters families and colleagues as well as the relatives of the resident who died. The public have to ask themselves if 'modernisation' (i.e. reductions) in the Fire Service will offer the protection that they have had for many years.

Clare Lusby
How brave those fire fighters were. I wonder how many people would of done the same. My heart goes out to all those that have been affected by this tragedy

kev
Its a shame that it takes a tradegy like this for people to then speak up about what a great job firefighters do. where was all the support when it was you the public that faced losing your local fire station. As a fireman, all we do is look after you. and those brave men paid the ultimate sacrifice for someone they didnt even know. god bless them. LFB

Jean
A tragedy for Stevenage. My heartfelt thoughts to everyone involved.

Karen Stanley
My 7 year old son asked me why did this happen... why couldnt they get out.... I couldnt answer. My sincere sympathy goes to out to all the families affect by this tragic event.

jim myers/usa
our sympathy goes out to the firefighters families and relatives and to the other memebers of the fire department. we feel your losses .

Tracie Brown
I passed this on my way to work this morning, I knew before seeing th news that it looked serious. Thoughts go out to all involved and to the families of the brave men who put their lifes on the line for us every day.

Lucy
This is such a tragic loss, our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of these firefighters - West Yorks Fire and Rescue Service.

PAUL.......
Ask the Deputy Chief what his proposals are for night time cover in his Brigade as per his Integrated Risk Management Plan??

jackie
My sincere condolences to the families and friends and collegues of the brave firefighters that gave their lives helping others

Mike Thurman
Our hearts really go out to the families.I used to think that fires like this only happened abroad - that our fire regulations make them impossible. It must be time to review them and make buildings safe.

Terry
Our thoughts and hearts go out to the families and collegues of the firefighters who gave their lives. Operations Support Dept. Somerset Fire and Rescue.

Valerie Anderton
My condolences to the families of the firefighters who died.They are heroes.My son-in-law is a firefighter and the local authority are trying to cut-down on appliance cover during the night - shame on them!

James
I live not 2 minutes from this block, what a terrible thing to happen as Stevenage slept, god rest their souls

Dan
And here begins the governments modernisation. This will be a come a common sight people. Trianing is almost extinct as the need for firefighters to fit smoke alarms is top priority, and cuts means firefighters are faceing increased dangers without sufficient backup. All my thoughts go out to thier loved ones and the colleagues of these brave people.

mark jarvis
sincere condolences to both families and collegues of the firefighters that gave thier life for the safety of others. from stn24 western leicestershire.

Ian
Thank you

Samantha Alexander
It should have a fire escape like stairs on the exterior of the building. Those flats are a deathtrap. I used to live in Brent Court which is identical to Harrow and I would always worry about a fire breaking out.

Alysse
I live just around the corner from there...i didn't even know it happened..I hope the person in hospital recovers soon... and im sorry for the families of the firefighters... R.I.P

Stuart
Condolences to the families and colleagues of these brave men. I can only imagine the heartache they feel right now.

lynsey
so sad for the famies who have lost both lives of loved ones and the many affected by this very sad event

David Jones
Deepest sympathy to the families of those firefighters killed. As a fellow firefighter, a tradgedy like this really hits home hard.

Lyhn Tina
Its very sad two firefighters have lost their lifes doing their job. All firefighters are not appreciated enough in my eyes. God bless the two that died.

Nick Winwood
Mythougfhts and feelings go out to the families and fellow firefighters of the two brave individuals. Can all the critics of the Firefighters take note the next time they ask for more pay.

Peter Emery
Once more some of our brave Men have died doing a dangerous job being taken for granted by our so called goverment God Bless all our Firefighters