Fireworks boss calls heroes ‘idiots’
The owner of a firework factory ripped apart by massive explosions has called the heroic firefighters who died in the blasts "idiots".
Martin Winter made the outburst as he broke his silence for the first time since the devastating blaze at Festival Fireworks in December.
Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker, both fathers of two, were killed in an explosion that injured 12 other people and destroyed a warehouse where fireworks were stored at Marlie Farm in Shortgate, near Ringmer.
Mr Winter's comments came as he claimed video footage taken by the dead firefighters had survived the inferno. He said: "There is a video of the two idiots who went in there. The film has survived."
Mr Wembridge, 63, of Poundfield Road, Crowborough, and Mr Wicker, 49, of Cuckmere Rise, Heathfield, were the first firefighters to be killed in action in Sussex since 1974.
They were among the first on the scene when the blaze took hold at the plant in the early afternoon of Sunday, December 3.
Books of condolence were opened across the county as the people of Sussex rushed to pay tribute to them.
Hundreds of friends and colleagues attended their funerals later that month.
Referring to Mr Winter's comments, East Sussex's chief fire officer Des Pritchard said: "The fire and rescue service would have no comment to make at all on this.
"Our focus has always been on supporting the families of our two firefighters.
"The families are doing their very best to recover from the tragedy and we also have quite a few firefighters still injured.
"We don't want to see anything that will cause them more distress."
The fire service was unable to comment on whether video footage had been recovered.
Spokesman Glen Poole said all evidence had been handed to police. He said: "All aspects of the incident are subject to a wide-ranging, detailed and complex investigation now under way, which is being led by the police, assisted by the Health and Safety Executive.
"East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has also set up a dedicated accident investigation team that has been in place since the incident occurred.
"It is not appropriate to pass comment on the specific details of the investigation but we can say the fire service is supporting every step of the investigation process and will ensure that no stone is left unturned. It is only by conducting this investigation in a thorough, professional and dignified manner that we will discover why the Festival Fireworks blaze happened."
Mr Winter criticised his treatment by police, fire service and Health and Safety Executive officers investigating the fire.
He said: "I have given a statement. All the family gave a statement and all the people who work here gave a statement. They have treated us like criminals."
He said he could not claim insurance money for damage to his home and business until the investigations were complete and he had not been told when that would be.
The Argus contacted Mr Winter after Festival Fireworks (UK) Ltd changed its name to Alpha Fireworks Limited on the Companies House register of private limited companies.
He declined to comment on the name change, saying it was "an option".
In 1999 Mr Winter was fined for storing explosives without a licence. Festival Fireworks, under its former trading name Sussex Fireworks and Displays Limited, was fined £1,000 plus court costs.
When The Argus visited Marlie Farm yesterday, the Winter family declined to explain his comments.
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