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Four firefighters believed dead Four firefighters believed dead
(40 minutes later)
Four firefighters are believed to have died tackling a suspected arson attack at a warehouse in Warwickshire.Four firefighters are believed to have died tackling a suspected arson attack at a warehouse in Warwickshire.
One crew member died in hospital after being pulled from the blaze at the vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on Stour. Three more remain missing.One crew member died in hospital after being pulled from the blaze at the vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on Stour. Three more remain missing.
The fire, on Atherstone Industrial Estate, started at 1800 GMT on Friday.The fire, on Atherstone Industrial Estate, started at 1800 GMT on Friday.
Warwickshire's fire chief said he had "grave concerns" for his colleagues. Union leaders said it appeared it was the worst loss of life for 35 years.Warwickshire's fire chief said he had "grave concerns" for his colleagues. Union leaders said it appeared it was the worst loss of life for 35 years.
The county's chief fire officer William Brown, speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, described it as "the worst day of my career".The county's chief fire officer William Brown, speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, described it as "the worst day of my career".
He said it had been a "catastrophic fire".He said it had been a "catastrophic fire".
Mr Brown said: "One of our firefighters died last night and three are still missing, and we have got grave concerns for them.Mr Brown said: "One of our firefighters died last night and three are still missing, and we have got grave concerns for them.
Crews were still fighting the fatal fire on Saturday morningCrews were still fighting the fatal fire on Saturday morning
"Firefighters operate as a close knit team, so we are very concerned.""Firefighters operate as a close knit team, so we are very concerned."
He added: "I wouldn't like to speculate on what we found in that building and what has generated so much heat within that building at this time."He added: "I wouldn't like to speculate on what we found in that building and what has generated so much heat within that building at this time."
"But certainly our investigation will unravel this whole thing and we will be able to identify the source of ignition and the reason why there was such a catastrophic fire"."But certainly our investigation will unravel this whole thing and we will be able to identify the source of ignition and the reason why there was such a catastrophic fire".
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told BBC News the potential loss of four lives would make the incident the worst loss of life among its members since 1972.Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told BBC News the potential loss of four lives would make the incident the worst loss of life among its members since 1972.
Mr Wrack said: "We are devastated by the loss of our four colleagues who died in the line of duty in Warwickshire. Mr Wrack said: "We are devastated by the loss of our colleague who died in the line of dutyin Warwickshire. We are deeply concerned about the three firefighters who remain missing.
"Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues who have been stunned by these deaths. "Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues who have been stunned by these events.
"This is the worse loss the fire service has faced in decades. Our service is traumatised by what has happened." "This could be the worst loss the fire service has faced in decades. Our service is traumatised by what has happened."
It is believed that warehouse staff were in the building, near Stratford-upon-Avon when fire broke out. An FBU spokesman said crews would have been sent in if they thought more civilians may be inside.It is believed that warehouse staff were in the building, near Stratford-upon-Avon when fire broke out. An FBU spokesman said crews would have been sent in if they thought more civilians may be inside.
Up to 100 firefighters and five ambulance crews were called to the scene and up to 16 fire engines were used to tackle the blaze, which was still alight on Saturday morning.Up to 100 firefighters and five ambulance crews were called to the scene and up to 16 fire engines were used to tackle the blaze, which was still alight on Saturday morning.
A search of the building for the missing firefighters is to get under way as soon as colleagues can enter the building, which suffered a partial collapse during the fire.A search of the building for the missing firefighters is to get under way as soon as colleagues can enter the building, which suffered a partial collapse during the fire.
'Worst night''Worst night'
Police said they were treating the blaze as suspicious.Police said they were treating the blaze as suspicious.
Bill Holland, Assistant Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, told the press conference: "A joint investigation will commence once the fire is out and it is safe to go into the building."Bill Holland, Assistant Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, told the press conference: "A joint investigation will commence once the fire is out and it is safe to go into the building."
Fire crews from Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and the West Midlands were called to the blaze.Fire crews from Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and the West Midlands were called to the blaze.
The firefighters tonight were heroically doing their job William Brown, chief fire officer, Warwickshire County CouncilThe firefighters tonight were heroically doing their job William Brown, chief fire officer, Warwickshire County Council
West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said he understood "large parts" of the roof had collapsed and said the three firefighters who were unaccounted for had not been seen since early in the evening.West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said he understood "large parts" of the roof had collapsed and said the three firefighters who were unaccounted for had not been seen since early in the evening.
He said: "We were all hoping against hope that the situation we found ourselves in wouldn't turn out to be true.He said: "We were all hoping against hope that the situation we found ourselves in wouldn't turn out to be true.
He added that hopes of finding the three missing firefighters safe and well had "pretty much faded now".He added that hopes of finding the three missing firefighters safe and well had "pretty much faded now".
Mr McGregor said the firefighter who died had been taken to Warwick Hospital following attempts to resuscitate him as soon as he was brought out of the building.Mr McGregor said the firefighter who died had been taken to Warwick Hospital following attempts to resuscitate him as soon as he was brought out of the building.
'Heroic firefighters''Heroic firefighters'
Mr Brown said it was "the worst day of his career"Mr Brown said it was "the worst day of his career"
Local resident Ben Shimmin, who lives in a village near the scene of the fire, said the warehouse was on the site of a disused airfield, with the nearest houses about three-quarters of a mile away, but there were other industrial buildings nearby.Local resident Ben Shimmin, who lives in a village near the scene of the fire, said the warehouse was on the site of a disused airfield, with the nearest houses about three-quarters of a mile away, but there were other industrial buildings nearby.
In 1972, seven firefighters died while fighting a blaze at a warehouse in Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.In 1972, seven firefighters died while fighting a blaze at a warehouse in Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.
In that incident, one firefighter was trapped inside the building and six of his colleagues died trying to rescue him.In that incident, one firefighter was trapped inside the building and six of his colleagues died trying to rescue him.