This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7078336.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Search for firefighters resumes | Search for firefighters resumes |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Specialist teams have resumed their "inch by inch" search for three missing firefighters following a suspicious warehouse blaze in Warwickshire. | Specialist teams have resumed their "inch by inch" search for three missing firefighters following a suspicious warehouse blaze in Warwickshire. |
One firefighter has already been confirmed dead following the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour on Friday evening. | One firefighter has already been confirmed dead following the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour on Friday evening. |
County fire service chaplain Canon David Capron praised the men's "loyalty and heroism" at a service on Sunday. | County fire service chaplain Canon David Capron praised the men's "loyalty and heroism" at a service on Sunday. |
He named them as Ian Reid, John Averis, Darren Yates-Badley and Ashley Stephens at the service in Alcester. | |
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. | 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. |
'No sprinkler' | 'No sprinkler' |
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. | 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. |
The search operation, involving more than 100 fire officers from Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester and the West Midlands, began on Sunday. | |
Ever-present threat of death In pictures: Warehouse fire | 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. | 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. | 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." |
'Pull rank' | '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. | 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." | "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." | "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. | 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. |
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 | 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. |
"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 men 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. |
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." |
The incident in Warwickshire 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. |