Lethal blaze at Twin Towers site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6953574.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Two New York firefighters have been killed and five others injured tackling a blaze at an abandoned skyscraper next to the Twin Towers site.

The former Deutsche Bank building, which was damaged in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre six years ago, was being dismantled.

Grey smoke from the blaze was visible across Manhattan, raising initial fears of toxic contamination.

But the city's mayor later said that such fears appeared unfounded.

Michael Bloomberg added that the two deaths had been "another cruel blow" to New York's fire department.

All of the injured firefighters were expected to be released from hospital. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear.

The Deutsche Bank building was contaminated with dust and debris from the WTC's collapsing south tower.

Work to pull it down was held up by a labour dispute last year as well as by the search for remains of 9/11 victims, which was finally completed in June.