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Blaze photographer killed in fire Firework depot blast 'unforeseen'
(about 2 hours later)
A fire service photographer and cameraman was one of two fire crew who died at a blaze at a fireworks depot. An explosion during a blaze at a fireworks factory that killed two firefighters must have been "unforeseen", an expert has said.
Retired officer Brian Wembridge, 63, one of the first on the scene near Lewes, East Sussex, had been re-employed to give support at fires. Investigations are pending but police and fire officers are still unable to enter the scene of the fire near Lewes.
The other man who died was a 49-year-old control room staff member, who was also a retained fire officer. Four people remain in hospital. Independent consultant Mick Massey said any risk of a blast would have led to East Sussex crews moving to safety.
Fire investigation officers are still unable to enter the scene of the blaze. The cause of the fire which started at Festival Fireworks on Sunday is still unknown. Nine people were injured.
Mr Massey said front-line crews would have assessed risks and the blast would have been caused by "something they didn't know about".
The expert, who served with London Fire Brigade for 30 years, said: "If there was a danger of an explosion of that magnitude then they would not have allowed crews in there."
What you can't legislate for is the unforeseen Mick Massey
He said crews would have made a "dynamic risk assessment" - a system followed by every brigade in the country.
He said the county's crews would have had prior knowledge of the depot, but added: "Any knowledge about the risks would obviously be based on the last time that officers looked at the building.
"What you can't legislate for is the unforeseen."
Gas cylinders
Fire service photographer and cameraman Brian Wembridge, 63, died in the blaze. He had been re-employed to give support at fires.
The other man who died was a 49-year-old control room staff member, who was also a retained fire officer.
Four people remain in hospital - two firefighters, a police officer and a member of the public.
One body still has to be recovered.One body still has to be recovered.
A 200-metre exclusion zone is in place because of fears up to 20 gas cylinders on the site could explode without warning. A 200m exclusion zone is in place because of fears up to 20 gas cylinders on the site could explode without warning.
An Army bomb disposal unit is at the scene and its remote-controlled vehicle is being used to assess the state of the cylinders. href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6205400.stm" class="">In pictures: Fireworks depot fire
Cool cylinders An Army bomb disposal unit is at the scene and its remote-controlled vehicle is being used to assess the state of the cylinders, which have to cool for 24 hours before officers can enter the site.
Chief Fire Officer Des Pritchard said the cylinders needed to cool for 24 hours before officers could enter the site.
He said it was unclear what had caused the fire and explosion but there was a steel factory as well as the fireworks storage unit on the site.
The firefighters were the first to die on duty in England and Wales this year, and Chief Fire Officer Des Pritchard said he believed they were the first in East Sussex since 1974.The firefighters were the first to die on duty in England and Wales this year, and Chief Fire Officer Des Pritchard said he believed they were the first in East Sussex since 1974.
A total of nine firefighters, a police sergeant and two members of the public were injured in the fire at Festival Fireworks, at Broyle, near Halland, that broke out at 1350 GMT on Sunday.A total of nine firefighters, a police sergeant and two members of the public were injured in the fire at Festival Fireworks, at Broyle, near Halland, that broke out at 1350 GMT on Sunday.
href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6205400.stm" class="">In pictures: Fireworks depot fire A number of buildings on the site were destroyed in the explosion and others severely damaged by the fire.
Two other firefighters remained in hospital on Monday, as did the police officer, who will require surgery for leg injuries and a member of the public who was in a serious but stable condition with chest injuries.
A number of buildings on the site were destroyed in an explosion and others severely damaged by the fire.
The investigation into the cause, which is expected to take "many weeks", will involve the police, fire and rescue service and the Health and Safety Executive.The investigation into the cause, which is expected to take "many weeks", will involve the police, fire and rescue service and the Health and Safety Executive.
It will also focus on whether licensing conditions were followed by the factory and, if so, whether they need to be tightened.It will also focus on whether licensing conditions were followed by the factory and, if so, whether they need to be tightened.
John McGhee, of the Fire Brigades Union, said it would be asking East Sussex Fire Authority whether proper plans were in place to deal with an incident at the factory.John McGhee, of the Fire Brigades Union, said it would be asking East Sussex Fire Authority whether proper plans were in place to deal with an incident at the factory.
Festival Fireworks is one of the UK's biggest firework importers and was behind the millennium display along London's River Thames.Festival Fireworks is one of the UK's biggest firework importers and was behind the millennium display along London's River Thames.
It is understood the fireworks store was a concrete complex with steel doors.It is understood the fireworks store was a concrete complex with steel doors.