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Two confirmed dead in house fire Two confirmed dead in house fire
(30 minutes later)
Two people have died and a third is missing in a house fire in Essex.Two people have died and a third is missing in a house fire in Essex.
Fire crews were called to Mill Lane in Saffron Walden just after 0830 GMT and found a three-storey semi-detached house on fire.Fire crews were called to Mill Lane in Saffron Walden just after 0830 GMT and found a three-storey semi-detached house on fire.
The first floor is alight and crews wearing breathing apparatus are continuing to tackle the flames, which have spread to the roof.The first floor is alight and crews wearing breathing apparatus are continuing to tackle the flames, which have spread to the roof.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service said two fatalities have been confirmed and one person was still unaccounted for.Essex Fire and Rescue Service said two fatalities have been confirmed and one person was still unaccounted for.
Firefighters are using a thermal image camera to search for the third person. Firefighters were using a thermal image camera to search for the third person, but have had to withdraw from the building as it is structurally unsafe.
They have also requested back up from the urban search and rescue team to shore up the building. Unsafe
The urban search and rescue team will work to make the building safe before crews go back inside to search for the third person.
Senior divisional officer Julian Ashley said: "The intensity of the fire has severely damaged the structure of the buildling.
"There are still pockets of fire in the roof but we have had to pull crews out because the building is unsafe.
"Once urban search and rescue has made the building safe we will resume our search for a third casualty believed to be inside."
A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire once it has been extinguished.A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire once it has been extinguished.