Staff Across Cambridgeshire Fire And Rescue Service Have Been Paying Tribute To PVFB Firefighter

Staff across Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been paying tribute to Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade (PVFB) firefighter - Will Baker who sadly died yesterday evening.

A colleague, aged 40, discovered Will at the volunteer fire station in the city. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Will had been a volunteer firefighter for 12 years. Known for his commitment to the brigade and the people he served, he was always true to the brigade’s motto of ‘always, ready and willing’.

Volunteer Fire Brigade service 

PVFB Chief Officer, Tony DeMatteis said, “Will was a long serving and well-respected member of the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was kind, and caring, and loved helping anyone he could without a thought for himself. This has been a great shock to us all and he will be missed by all who knew him.”

Chris Strickland, Chief Fire Officer of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said “Our Volunteer Fire Brigade is a significant and much-valued part of our Service. Like his colleagues at the station, Will had offered his time to the community for many years, readily making sacrifices at home to respond to his pager and support Peterborough residents when they needed it, demonstrating his dedication, commitment, and sense of community."

Will's experience 

Will’s other passion was his main job as a teaching assistant at The Phoenix School where he worked for 16 years

Chris Strickland adds, “Our thoughts remain with Will’s family at this incredibly difficult time. We will continue to do all we can to support them as well as Will’s colleagues at the station.”

As well as being dedicated to his role as a volunteer firefighter, Will’s other passion was his main job as a teaching assistant at The Phoenix School in Peterborough where he had worked for 16 years.

Authority comments

Head Teacher - Charlotte Whysall said, “Will was the heart of our school community, he was loved and respected by all. We will miss his humor, commitment, and passion – nothing was ever too much for Will and he went above and beyond to support our pupils, no one has done more and asked for so little in return."

She adds, "Will was the very best of us, he made a huge difference to the lives of all those he came into contact with and will remain in our hearts.”