Firefighter killed in arson incident honoured

Fleur Lombard's family are amongst the first to receive a brand new award

The family of a firefighter killed in an arson incident nearly 30 years ago are among the first people to be honoured with a new emblem.

Fleur Lombard, who worked for Avon Fire and Rescue, was just 21 when she died fighting a blaze at Leo's Supermarket in Staple Hill, Bristol, on 4 February 1996.

The first woman firefighter to die on duty in peacetime Britain, she has been awarded a number of posthumous honours.

But it was today announced she and her family have become one of the first recipients of the new Elizabeth Emblem, which commemorates public servants who died in service.

Ms Lombard was just 21 when she was killed in the incident

The new award has been specifically created to commemorate the family members of police officers, firefighters and other public servants who have died in the course of their duties, and is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

Ms Lombard was also posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal in 1998, in recognition of her bravery.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Ms Lombard's sister Rebecca Lombard-Earl described how Ms Lombard had originally dreamt of becoming a lawyer, but had happened upon the possibility of joining the fire service after reading an article about female firefighters in a women's magazine.

"She just said 'that's it, this is what I want to do,'" Ms Lombard-Earl recalled, adding that Ms Lombard had first thrown herself into becoming a retained firefighter before starting work full time at Avon Fire and Rescue.

Ms Lombard-Earl described her sister as "a hero"

"She was not fussed about awards, though she seems to be racking them up I have to say - she would think it was a bit silly," Ms Lombard-Earl said.

"However," she added, "she was a real family person and she would be absolutely thrilled by what this means for all of the recipients and the organisations that employed them, and she would be absolutely thrilled for my parents."

'A lifetime of sadness'

Avon Fire and Rescue Services' Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton said news of the award was "particularly poignant" as he had known Ms Lombard through their service together.

"It's especially poignant for her family," he said, adding: "Whilst the tragedy of the moment moves on for the fire and rescue service, for Fleur's family they've lived a lifetime of sadness and loss so it's incredibly important that we keep Fleur's memory alive and that she's been recognised with such a prestigious award."

Mr Shilton knew Ms Lombard from working in the fire service at the same time

Asked if he believed there was enough awareness of the risks involved in firefighting, Mr Shilton said: "It is a very dangerous profession.

"Firefighters put themselves at risk every single day to make their communities safer and it's incredibly important that is understood and recognised, and that tragic events such as Fleur's passing are continually remembered."