A serving firefighter has died in a horror crash in Pewsey, the Chief Fire Officer says.
Emergency services were called to the A345 Salisbury Road following a two-vehicle road traffic collision at 6.50pm yesterday evening (Thursday, 12 October).
The driver of a Suzuki Grand Vitara, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighter and Watch Manager Mark Hillier, was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is with great shock and sadness that I am confirming, on behalf of his family, the sudden passing of one of our colleagues”, Chief Fire Officer Ben Ansell said.
“Watch Manager Mark Hillier passed away last night following a road traffic collision near his home in Pewsey. I know that I speak on behalf of the entire Service when I say that we are devastated by this news.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.
Mark joined Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service in October 1995 as an on-call firefighter at Pewsey fire station, where he became Watch Manager.
“Together with his on-call role, Mark also worked as a wholetime firefighter with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service for nine years, before transferring back to Dorset & Wiltshire, within wholetime, in May 2022, where he worked as a Watch Manager at Salisbury fire station. He was recently temporarily promoted to Station Manager for South West Wiltshire.
“Mark was recognised in 2021 with a Making a Difference award for his outstanding work and commitment to organising the ‘laptop for kids’ initiative.
“In remembrance and as a mark of respect, our Union flags (Service standard at SHQ) are to be flown at half-mast, at all workplaces that have them, from now until 0800 on Tuesday 17 October (the day after Pewsey’s weekly drill night), when they will return to full mast.”
