Warehouse blaze investigated

Updated 17.42 Sat Nov 03 2007
Keywords: blaze, inferno, Warwickshire, fire

An investigation has been launched into the tactics employed by fire crews called to a fatal blaze in Warwickshire.

West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said the firefighter who died had been taken to Warwick Hospital following attempts to resuscitate him.

Search teams have been unable to get into the warehouse to look for the three missing firefighters because the building is still not safe to enter

Search teams have been unable to get into the warehouse to look for three missing firefighters because the building is still not safe to enter.

Around 100 firefighters were called to the vegetable packing warehouse at Atherstone Industrial Estate, near Stratford upon Avon, after the blaze reportedly started at around 6.45pm on Friday.

Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious and William Brown, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue's chief fire officer, said it was a building "where we would not expect a fire to start".

Fire crews are still bringing the blaze under control, and are likely to continue damping down the flames overnight and through Sunday.

The fire brigade said in a statement: "The building remains unsafe to enter, which is hampering investigations and our critical searches until experts can gain access to the site.

"Concerns are heightened hour by hour for the three fire fighters who are still missing.

"Our worst fears may be realised but we will not give up our continued search for our missing colleagues."

Senior fire officers and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) are discussing how to carry out a thorough investigation into the blaze so any lessons can be learnt.

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