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Warehouse blaze four to be named Search for firefighters resumes
(about 1 hour later)
Four firefighters, one of whom is dead and three missing following a suspicious warehouse blaze, are expected to be identified. Specialist teams have resumed their "inch by inch" search for three missing firefighters following a suspicious warehouse blaze in Warwickshire.
It comes as a search continues to find the missing firefighters in the wreckage of the building in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire. One firefighter has already been confirmed dead following the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour on Friday evening.
The operation, which began on Sunday involving more than 100 fire officers, is expected to take up to 36 hours. County fire service chaplain Canon David Capron praised the men's "loyalty and heroism" at a service on Sunday.
A service of prayer was held for the four men in the town of Alcester. He named them as Ian Reid, John Averis, Darren Yates-Bradley and Ashley Stephens at the service in Alcester.
One of the four was confirmed dead after being pulled from Friday night's fire. Three of his colleagues remained in the burning premises as the roof collapsed. Mr Capron, who is from a family of retained firefighters, said Mr Reid and Mr Averis were based at Stratford-on-Avon fire station, while Mr Yates-Bradley and Mr Stephens were based at Alcester fire station.
It has an added poignancy when it is their own colleagues they are searching for Jon Hall, Fire chief 'No sprinkler'
Avish Malde, a director of the firm which owns the site, has revealed there was no sprinkler system installed at the vegetable-packing warehouse. One of the four was confirmed dead after being pulled from the fire. Three of his colleagues remained in the burning premises as the roof collapsed.
Wealmoor Atherstone Ltd, the company which owns the site, says none of the 300 people it employs there are missing. The search operation, involving more than 100 fire officers, began on Sunday.
Ever-present threat of death In pictures: Warehouse fire
Avish Malde, a director of site-owner Wealmoor Atherstone Ltd, has revealed there was no sprinkler system installed at the vegetable-packing warehouse.
None of the 300 people the firm employs at the warehouse are missing.
Mr Malde, who said the fire began at the end of a shift, said: "There isn't a fire sprinkler system in place at the moment but plans were in place to actually put one in.Mr Malde, who said the fire began at the end of a shift, said: "There isn't a fire sprinkler system in place at the moment but plans were in place to actually put one in.
"So at this moment in time we're co-operating fully with the fire services on that line of the inquiry.""So at this moment in time we're co-operating fully with the fire services on that line of the inquiry."
Specialist teams from across the UK started going onto the site on Sunday afternoon. 'Pull rank'
The Mayor of Alcester, David Hancox, said: "It's a very difficult time for the town. I think the shock that we experienced on Saturday morning is changing now to one of grief and the town seems to be under a cloud I think at the moment.
"We shall pull rank on the families and give them all the support that we possibly can."
"It's one of those communities where everybody knows everybody. I would describe it more as a family than strictly a community."
Specialist teams from across the UK started going into the site on Sunday afternoon.
They are investigating why the fire crews went into the warehouse while it was still burning.They are investigating why the fire crews went into the warehouse while it was still burning.
class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7076583.stm">Ever-present threat of death class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7076420.stm">In pictures: Warehouse fire This dreadful incident is a sharp and poignant reminder to us all of the risks faced by our firefighters on a daily basis Steve McGuirk, president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association
At a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Assistant Chief Officer Jon Hall, of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, said the building was still collapsing.At a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Assistant Chief Officer Jon Hall, of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, said the building was still collapsing.
Mr Hall said: "It's still moving - we know it's moving and that's why you'll see monitoring equipment so we know exactly what parts of the building are moving and when.Mr Hall said: "It's still moving - we know it's moving and that's why you'll see monitoring equipment so we know exactly what parts of the building are moving and when.
"Particularly in the current weather, where it heats up and cools down overnight, there's still a lot of movement in that building. It's quite a complex search operation.
"The crews always want to do their best but it has an added poignancy when it is their own colleagues they are searching for.""The crews always want to do their best but it has an added poignancy when it is their own colleagues they are searching for."
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it believed all four were retained firefighters, who work part-time. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it believed all four men were retained firefighters, who work part-time.
Warwickshire Fire Service's chaplain, Canon David Capron, is from a family of retained firefighters and led the church service.
He said people were converging on nearby Alcester's fire station in tears to express their condolences.
'No routine incident'
"Clearly this has deeply affected the town. It's a close-knit community," he said.
Steve McGuirk, president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association, said: "This dreadful incident is a sharp and poignant reminder to us all of the risks faced by our firefighters on a daily basis and that there is no such thing as a routine incident."Steve McGuirk, president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association, said: "This dreadful incident is a sharp and poignant reminder to us all of the risks faced by our firefighters on a daily basis and that there is no such thing as a routine incident."
It could be the worst loss of life for on-duty firefighters for more than 30 years. The incident in Warwickshire could be the worst loss of life for on-duty firefighters for more than 30 years.
Seven firefighters died in 1972 while fighting a blaze at a warehouse in Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.Seven firefighters died in 1972 while fighting a blaze at a warehouse in Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.
In that incident, one firefighter was trapped inside the building and six of his colleagues died trying to rescue him.