Firefighter found in warehouse wreckage
A media briefing at lunchtime today has confirmed that the body of one of the three missing firefighters has been found.
The firefighter, who has not been named, is one of three who have been missing since Friday in the wreckage of a warehouse in Atherstone on Stour.
Head of Warwickshire’s Fire and Rescue Service Glen Ranger today said the service was committed to hunting through the debris until all three of the firefighters had been retrieved from the building.
Firefighter Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after being pulled from the burning warehouse on Friday. His colleagues Darren Yates-Badley, Ashley Stephens and John Averis are still missing.
Glen Ranger said: "I am certain we have found one of the firefighters who died while fighting this fire. Over 200 personnel will now continue to work tirelessly until we find our missing colleagues."
Urban Search and Rescue Teams have been carrying out an inch by inch search of the huge building.
Chief Supt Ken Lawrence, of Warwickshire Police, said the inquiry into the fire would be "lengthy and detailed".
He said detectives would need to identify all of the staff who worked at the vegetable packing plant, and interview about 200 firefighters who had dealt with the blaze.
"It is progressing quite speedily and I am quite content with that at the moment," he said.