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Firefighter dies tackling blaze Firefighter dies tackling blaze
(about 3 hours later)
A firefighter has died and up to three others are believed to be missing after a suspected arson attack at a warehouse in Warwickshire. A firefighter has died and three others are missing after a suspected arson attack at a warehouse in Warwickshire.
Up to 100 firefighters and five ambulance crews were called to the vegetable warehouse in Atherstone on Stour, near Stratford upon Avon.Up to 100 firefighters and five ambulance crews were called to the vegetable warehouse in Atherstone on Stour, near Stratford upon Avon.
The blaze, on Atherstone Industrial Estate, is believed to have started at about 1845 GMT on Friday.The blaze, on Atherstone Industrial Estate, is believed to have started at about 1845 GMT on Friday.
Police said they were treating the blaze as suspicious. Police said they were treating the blaze, which was still raging in the early hours, as suspicious.
Fire crews from Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and the West Midlands were called to the blaze, which they were still tackling late on Friday night. Fire crews from Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and the West Midlands were called to the blaze.
'Worst night'
West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said he understood "large parts" of the roof had collapsed and said the three firefighters who were unaccounted for had not been seen for several hours.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said it "could be the worst night for the fire service in decades".
The level of smoke has caused problems for all of the emergency services West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesmanThe level of smoke has caused problems for all of the emergency services West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman
The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance has been called into operation, to be ready to fly anyone with serious burns to a specialist unit at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. Mr McGregor said the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance has been called into operation, to be ready to fly anyone with serious burns to a specialist unit at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said the firefighter who died had been taken to Warwick Hospital following attempts to resuscitate him as soon as he was brought out of the building. He said the firefighter who died had been taken to Warwick Hospital following attempts to resuscitate him as soon as he was brought out of the building.
He said he understood there were no warehouse workers caught up in the fire, but said he had not had this confirmed.He said he understood there were no warehouse workers caught up in the fire, but said he had not had this confirmed.
He said: "This is a very large and complex incident.He said: "This is a very large and complex incident.
"We currently have five ambulances, four doctors, two emergency care practitioners and five officers at the scene."We currently have five ambulances, four doctors, two emergency care practitioners and five officers at the scene.
Water supply diverted
"We are working with colleagues from both the fire and police services."We are working with colleagues from both the fire and police services.
"The fire is extremely intense with large quantities of smoke. The level of smoke has caused problems for all of the emergency services." "The fire is extremely intense with large quantities of smoke. The level of smoke has caused problems for all of the emergency services.
Water supply diverted
"Large parts of the roof of the building have collapsed, which does raise serious concerns about the well-being of those firefighters.
"It must be absolutely dreadful to know that colleagues you have fought fires with are perhaps no longer with us and clearly our hearts go out to all those involved."
Local resident Ben Shimmin, who lives in a village near the scene of the fire, told BBC News the warehouse was on the site of a disused airfield, with the nearest houses about three-quarters of a mile away, but there were other industrial buildings nearby.Local resident Ben Shimmin, who lives in a village near the scene of the fire, told BBC News the warehouse was on the site of a disused airfield, with the nearest houses about three-quarters of a mile away, but there were other industrial buildings nearby.
He said he became aware of the fire when he lost his water supply, with water being diverted to use to fight the flames.He said he became aware of the fire when he lost his water supply, with water being diverted to use to fight the flames.
He said: "From the road you can quite clearly see the blaze above the tree line and above the roof line of the building.He said: "From the road you can quite clearly see the blaze above the tree line and above the roof line of the building.
"There's a lot of smoke, and obviously a lot of police presence.""There's a lot of smoke, and obviously a lot of police presence."