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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Firefighters killed in fire named | Firefighters killed in fire named |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two firefighters killed while tackling a fire at a high-rise block of flats in Southampton have been named. | Two firefighters killed while tackling a fire at a high-rise block of flats in Southampton have been named. |
| James Shears, 35, and Alan Bannon, 38, died at the 15-storey Shirley Towers in Church Street where fire broke out just after 0800 BST. | James Shears, 35, and Alan Bannon, 38, died at the 15-storey Shirley Towers in Church Street where fire broke out just after 0800 BST. |
| A further two firefighters suffered minor burns to their hands. | A further two firefighters suffered minor burns to their hands. |
| Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire began in Flat 72 and all the residents were rescued. A spokesman said an investigation has begun. | Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire began in Flat 72 and all the residents were rescued. A spokesman said an investigation has begun. |
| Both men were full-time firefighters and members of Red Watch at St Mary's fire station in Southampton. | Both men were full-time firefighters and members of Red Watch at St Mary's fire station in Southampton. |
| I would like to pay tribute to the courage, dedication and service of those firefighters Chief fire officer John Bonney | I would like to pay tribute to the courage, dedication and service of those firefighters Chief fire officer John Bonney |
| Mr Shears had been with the service just under seven years; Mr Bannon for eight and a half years. | Mr Shears had been with the service just under seven years; Mr Bannon for eight and a half years. |
| Chief fire officer John Bonney told a press conference: "We are devastated by the loss of our colleagues who died in the line of duty. | Chief fire officer John Bonney told a press conference: "We are devastated by the loss of our colleagues who died in the line of duty. |
| "Our thoughts are with their families, with their friends and their colleagues who have all been stunned by these events. | "Our thoughts are with their families, with their friends and their colleagues who have all been stunned by these events. |
| "I would like to pay tribute to the courage, dedication and service of those firefighters. | "I would like to pay tribute to the courage, dedication and service of those firefighters. |
| "This tragic incident is another tragic reminder of the danger that emergency services put themselves in day in, day out to ensure the safety of the public." | "This tragic incident is another tragic reminder of the danger that emergency services put themselves in day in, day out to ensure the safety of the public." |
| Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service paid tribute their colleagues' courage | |
| Residents were evacuated from the building, one of Southampton's tallest, and were provided with emergency accommodation by the city council. | Residents were evacuated from the building, one of Southampton's tallest, and were provided with emergency accommodation by the city council. |
| Nearby roads were cordoned off by police as up to 20 fire engines were called to the scene and firefighters from neighbouring counties were called in to help. | Nearby roads were cordoned off by police as up to 20 fire engines were called to the scene and firefighters from neighbouring counties were called in to help. |
| Communities Secretary John Denham said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of the two firefighters who have tragically lost their lives in the fire in Southampton. | |
| "The incident brings home to us the professionalism and dedication of the men and women working in our fire and rescue services and of the debt of gratitude we owe them." | |
| Mr Denham added that he had asked Sir Ken Knight, the government's chief fire and rescue adviser, to keep him updated on the joint police and fire service investigation into the cause of the fire. | |
| The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed. | |
| 'Black smoke' | |
| Ross Simpson, a Shirley Towers resident, told BBC Radio Solent he was watching a DVD when he first realised a fire had broken out. | |
| "Around about 8.15pm I just heard sirens around the block," he said. | |
| "I looked out of the window and saw a group of people outside and I saw fire engines turn up. | |
| "I looked out of my kitchen window, looked up and basically, saw black smoke coming out of the flats." | |
| Meanwhile, resident Sammy Judd said: "I looked out the window and saw all the smoke, and I grabbed my [three-year-old] daughter and told my friend we had to get out. | |
| "Next thing we know, there's smoke pouring in to our flat." |