Update - Atherstone-on-Stour fire
A media briefing was held at the scene of the fatal factory fire at Atherstone on Stour today, Sunday November 4 at 1.30pm, to give an update on the latest stage of the investigation.
Chief Superintendent Paul Mason Brown opened the media briefing to re-iterate that the thoughts of all the emergency services were with the families, colleagues and friends of the fire fighter who has died and the three who are still missing.
Chief Supt Mason Brown also confirmed that the location of the fire remained a crime scene and police officers were working closely with the fire and rescue services. He said the fire was being treated as unexplained and appealed for anyone who was in the vicinity of the warehouse on Friday evening, and who has any information which may be helpful, to contact the police.
Stephen Haynes, Assistant County Fire Officer for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue, told the media that Warwickshire firefighters "working under extremely testing and difficult circumstances" have now extinguished the fire and the operation has moved into a new phase.
The search and rescue phase is being coordinated by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue, under the leadership of assistant county officer Jon Hall, in conjunction with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Hall explained that nine specialist teams from the nationally resourced Urban Search and Rescue Team will be working on the site, with the fire officers, and over the next 36 hours conducting an inch by inch search of the building.
The teams have come from West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hampshire and London.
Their first job will be to clear any dangerous structures and make the area safe before the task of searching for casualties can begin.
The teams will be using specialist equipment including cameras and diggers.
The building is being monitored closely by structural engineers, working with the Health and Safety Executive, who will be carrying out constant structure and stress assessments to ensure the safety of the teams working inside.
Anyone with information about Friday’s fire is asked to contact Warwickshire Police on 01926 415000 and ask to be put through to the incident room.
Entities for this story
- Hereford
- Worcester
- London
- West Midlands
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- rescue services
- inch search
- emergency services
- assistant county officer
- Officer
- Chief Superintendent
- Safety Executive
- Assistant County Fire Officer
- Chief
- Jon Hall
- Supt Mason Brown
- Paul Mason Brown
- Rescue
- Stephen Haynes
- 01926 415000
- Mr Hall
- Warwickshire Police
- Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service