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Mural unveiled in honour of fallen firefighter duo

A mural has been unveiled in central London in honour of two firefighters who died while responding to a fire 20 years ago. Adam Meere and Billy Faust died tackling a fire at a three-storey building in Bethnal Green on 20 July 2004.

Today, we remember firefighters Billy Faust and Adam Meere, from Whitechapel Red Watch, who twenty years ago tragically lost their lives responding to a fire.
 
Billy and Adam were among fifty firefighters who attended a fire in Bethnal Green on 20 July 2004. Following an explosion, they became trapped in the building’s basement.
Fellow firefighters at the scene immediately began to carry out an operation to reach Billy and Adam, who were rescued with severe injuries. Sadly, both passed away shortly after arriving at hospital.
 
Twenty years on, Billy and Adam feature in a mural designed by local artist David Speed at the fire station where they served.
 
Serving firefighters from across the Brigade were joined by Billy and Adam’s families at the mural unveiling, as well as retired firefighters and officers that served with them.
This was followed by a service at St John on Bethnal Green, and a wreath laying at the memorial in Museum Gardens, near the site of the fire twenty years ago.
 
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said, “I’m grateful we now have this mural in their memory, and that people from across the Brigade have joined with Billy and Adam’s families to unveil it. It’s important for us as an organisation to remember, and for us to work hard in ensuring firefighters are as safe as possible when responding to emergencies.”
 
We hope you will join us in remembering Billy and Adam today, and thank them for their incredible service.
London Fire Brigade

20 years ago on the 20th July 2024 changed my life, and that of countless people. My heart goes out to the family, families and colleagues of Billy Faust and Adam Meere who tragically paid the ultimate price any firefighter can.

On that morning I was asked to go and investigate a double fatalities fire in Bethnal Green Road. I did not know at first they were my colleagues.

I was determined to leave NO stone unturned to determine what went wrong and why they could not get out.

I am proud to say, but wish I didn’t have to, that it was my fire investigation that identified the failure mechanisms that failed them both.

I hope the lessons have been learnt and seeing as it’s been 20 years and we haven’t lost any other firefighters in action, I’d like to think they have been.

Billy’s Dad came to my retirement party over 12 years ago, which was the ultimate honour for me!

I delivered my case study presentation to 1,000’s of firefighters in the London Fire Brigade and around the world.

The purpose was obviously to prevent it happening again. If it saved one firefighter’s injury or death, it would have all been worth the extremely hard work, politics, stress and distress. Nothing compared with what their families have suffered.

May they rest in peace knowing that the lessons learned with what went wrong at that incident may have saved many firefighters lives.

Liveryman Dr Peter Mansi

Twenty years ago this morning, heading in to Poplar fire station, I saw smoke from the top of Canning Town Flyover (from another fire in Bow) and I reached over to turn on the brigade radio in my car. I then became aware of the fire at Bethnal Green Road, the messages I heard on the last half a mile into the station sent a shiver down my spine. Starting what was to be the worst period of my time in LFB. Billy and Adam, you will always be remembered. Rest in Peace.

Steve Dudeney