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Search for firefighters continues Slow progress in warehouse search
(about 3 hours later)
Fire crews have worked through the night in their inch-by-inch search of a burnt-out warehouse for the bodies of three missing colleagues. Firefighters are inching their way through the rubble of a burned down warehouse in the search for their three missing colleagues.
The operation at the vegetable plant in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, has continued since the blaze on Friday. Part of the first floor of the plant in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, is having to be rebuilt, slowing the progress of the search teams.
One firefighter, Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after being pulled from the wreckage at an early stage. Firefighter Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after being pulled from wreckage of Friday's fire.
The county fire service chaplain named the missing men as Darren Yates-Badley, Ashley Stephens and John Averis. Darren Yates-Badley, Ashley Stephens and John Averis are still missing.
Aerial image of warehouse
Up to 200 people are involved in what fire crews have called the "immensely frustrating" search of the packing plant, which is the size of four football pitches.Up to 200 people are involved in what fire crews have called the "immensely frustrating" search of the packing plant, which is the size of four football pitches.
We will not stop operations until we retrieve the Warwickshire firefighters who are still in the building Jon Hall, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service class="" href="/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7079669.stm">Town rocked by fire tragedy Structurally unsafe
Jon Hall, assistant chief of Hereford and Worcester fire service, said: "We are monitoring the situation minute by minute. The desire to see this through to the end is unstinted." The search for the men began on Sunday and 12 search teams have so far gone 20m (22 yards) into the building.
The four men were in the building when the roof collapsed and Mr Hall said there was a continuing danger of further collapses. They are thought to be 80m (88 yards) away from where they think the missing men are.
Hopes of completing the search before midnight on Monday were not realised. These professional men were doing their job of controlling a raging fire - with a tragic outcome - but their actions remain those of heroes Warwickshire's chief fire officer William Brown
"Due to the state of the building and the conditions crews are having to work in, we can no longer say how much longer this operation will take," Mr Hall continued. Firefighters worked through the night, continuing their search
The building is structurally unsafe and special monitoring equipment has been put in place around it to check for movements. A steel girder fell during the search on Monday.
Police forensic teams are also inside the warehouse investigating the cause of the fire, which is being treated as suspicious, and items are being removed for analysis.
Jon Hall, assistant chief of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, which is leading the search, said: "We are monitoring the situation minute by minute. The desire to see this through to the end is unstinted."
He added: "Due to the state of the building and the conditions crews are having to work in, we can no longer say how much longer this operation will take.
Recently married
"We will not stop operations until we retrieve the Warwickshire firefighters who are still in the building.""We will not stop operations until we retrieve the Warwickshire firefighters who are still in the building."
Ashley Stevens and Darren Yates-Badley were based at Alcester He said 150 staff who worked in the building had all been accounted for.
Earlier, he said the 150 staff who worked at the site had all been accounted for.
When the bodies are found, members of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue will carry them out of the building, as a mark of respect, the service has said.
Warwickshire Police said on Monday they had not yet established the cause of the fire which "remains suspicious".
Outside Alcester Fire Station, where two of the firefighters were based, candles have been lit and floral tributes laid.Outside Alcester Fire Station, where two of the firefighters were based, candles have been lit and floral tributes laid.
Ashley Stevens and Darren Yates-Badley were based at Alcester
Mr Reid had worked for Warwickshire Fire Service for four years and was based in Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mr Yates-Badley, 24, was based at Alcester and had only recently married his wife Faye.
Mr Averis, 27, was based at Stratford-upon-Avon and had been with the fire service for three years, previously working as a Ministry of Defence firefighter at Marlborough Barracks.
Mr Stephens, 20, was the youngest of the men and was also based at Alcester. He leaves behind a fiancee, Emma Crocker, with whom he had a three-month old son, George.
In a statement, Mr Stephens' fiancee, mother Sharon and father Paul, said: "Ashley was a wonderful loving father, fiancee, son and brother and he will always be in our hearts."In a statement, Mr Stephens' fiancee, mother Sharon and father Paul, said: "Ashley was a wonderful loving father, fiancee, son and brother and he will always be in our hearts."
'Our hero'
Mr Yates-Badley's wife, Fay, and his parents Mandy and Stephen Baylis, said he was "larger than life".Mr Yates-Badley's wife, Fay, and his parents Mandy and Stephen Baylis, said he was "larger than life".
'Heroic actions'
"Darren treated everyone equally and with the same kindness," they said."Darren treated everyone equally and with the same kindness," they said.
"We didn't realise the impact that Darren had on other people's lives and he is our hero.""We didn't realise the impact that Darren had on other people's lives and he is our hero."
The three missing men were all in their 20s.
Mr Reid had worked for Warwickshire Fire Service for four years, and had been based in Rugby and Stratford.
Warwickshire's chief fire officer William Brown praised all the men.Warwickshire's chief fire officer William Brown praised all the men.
He said: "Our work involves us in often difficult and sometimes highly dangerous call-outs.He said: "Our work involves us in often difficult and sometimes highly dangerous call-outs.
"These professional men were doing their job of controlling a raging fire - with a tragic outcome - but their actions remain those of heroes.""These professional men were doing their job of controlling a raging fire - with a tragic outcome - but their actions remain those of heroes."
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