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Firefighter dies tackling Manchester shop blaze | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A firefighter has died tackling a large blaze in Manchester city centre. | |
Stephen Hunt, 38, was among 60 firefighters called to the fire at the store-room of a shop in Oldham Street. | |
A spokesman said he got into difficulty at about 20:35 BST along with another firefighter and both were pulled out and taken to hospital. | A spokesman said he got into difficulty at about 20:35 BST along with another firefighter and both were pulled out and taken to hospital. |
County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues who has died in the line of duty." | County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues who has died in the line of duty." |
Mr Hunt, from the Manchester area, was confirmed dead in hospital. | |
The other injured firefighter is not thought to have life-threatening injuries, a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said. | |
'Dedicated firefighter' | |
The fire broke out in the underground store-room of Paul's Hair World at about 14:50 BST and was still being dealt with on Sunday morning. | |
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been particularly difficult to tackle because of the complex layout of the building and the amount of material inside. | |
"We never expect to lose a colleague in this way and it brings home the dangers that our firefighters put themselves in every day to keep the community safe," Mr McGuirk said. | |
"Stephen had been a dedicated firefighter since 2008 and we are all in a state of shock." | |
"It is a very sad day for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and all our thoughts are with Stephen's family and friends." | |
An investigation is being carried out in conjunction with the police to establish the cause of the blaze. Mr McGuirk said at this stage arson was not being ruled out. | |
The Merseyside and Lancashire fire services are expected to lead an investigation into the circumstances around Mr Hunt's death. | |
Many of his colleagues remain at the scene tackling the blaze and Mr McGuirk paid tribute to their "professionalism, courage and dedication" while "mourning" their colleague's death. |