Two teenage girls no longer under investigation over fatal Manchester fire
17 Jul 2013: Police say no further action will be taken against two 15-year-olds arrested after firefighter died in blaze on Saturday
17 Jul 2013: Police say no further action will be taken against two 15-year-olds arrested after firefighter died in blaze on Saturday
Police say no further action will be taken against two 15-year-olds arrested after firefighter died in blaze on Saturday
Floral tributes to Manchester firefighter Stephen Hunt, who died in the blaze. Photograph: Steven Purcell/Demotix/Corbis
Two 15-year-old girls arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a firefighter died in a Manchester shop blaze are no longer under investigation.
Police are appealing for more witnesses and say they do not know what caused the fire at a city centre hair salon, or whether it was deliberate or accidental.
Emergency services were called to Paul's Hair World on Oldham Street in the city centre, where the fire started just before 3pm on Saturday. Over 60 firefighters were tackling the fire by 3.50pm, and by 8.30pm crews thought they were starting to get it under control.
But the fire became more intense and a signal was then given to evacuate the building. Two firefighters, including Stephen Hunt, 38, became trapped inside the building. They were pulled out by colleagues and treated by paramedics at the scene. They were taken to hospital but Hunt, a father of two teenagers, was pronounced dead a few minutes after arriving.
An investigation is underway involving Greater Manchester police, HM Coroner, the Health and Safety Executive and the Fire Service.
The two teenage girls arrested over the weekend were questioned by police but later released on bail. Police have now cancelled their bail.
"It is our judgement that they were not involved," said Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, divisional commander for North Manchester. "They and their families have been told no further action will be taken."
Police are keen to dispel rumours circulating in the media that the fire was started by a discarded cigarette.
"The investigation will be thorough, and I have to say that speculation into who or how the fire was caused is unhelpful and no doubt upsetting to people who knew Stephen," said Jackson.
He said it could take months or even years to understand what happened. "This investigation is likely to be protracted," he said.
"Indeed, in this inquiry the cause of the fire is one aspect, others are the fire safety of the building and the actions of the fire service because, as you would expect, when a member of the emergency services loses their life whilst doing their job, an examination of the service concerned is absolutely proper."
Jackson said the loss of Hunt has had a devastating impact on his family, colleagues and the wider community. "He was a dedicated firefighter doing the job he loved, protecting the people of Manchester," he said. "I don't think you can help but be touched by what's happened to Stephen."
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in or near St Paul's Hair World on Saturday, and anyone who may have used the cut-through from Short Street to Oldham Street between 1pm and 3pm that day.
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Police are appealing for more witnesses and say they do not know what caused the fire at a city centre hair salon, or whether it was deliberate or accidental.
Emergency services were called to Paul's Hair World on Oldham Street in the city centre, where the fire started just before 3pm on Saturday. Over 60 firefighters were tackling the fire by 3.50pm, and by 8.30pm crews thought they were starting to get it under control.
But the fire became more intense and a signal was then given to evacuate the building. Two firefighters, including Stephen Hunt, 38, became trapped inside the building. They were pulled out by colleagues and treated by paramedics at the scene. They were taken to hospital but Hunt, a father of two teenagers, was pronounced dead a few minutes after arriving.
An investigation is underway involving Greater Manchester police, HM Coroner, the Health and Safety Executive and the Fire Service.
The two teenage girls arrested over the weekend were questioned by police but later released on bail. Police have now cancelled their bail.
"It is our judgement that they were not involved," said Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, divisional commander for North Manchester. "They and their families have been told no further action will be taken."
Police are keen to dispel rumours circulating in the media that the fire was started by a discarded cigarette.
"The investigation will be thorough, and I have to say that speculation into who or how the fire was caused is unhelpful and no doubt upsetting to people who knew Stephen," said Jackson.
He said it could take months or even years to understand what happened. "This investigation is likely to be protracted," he said.
"Indeed, in this inquiry the cause of the fire is one aspect, others are the fire safety of the building and the actions of the fire service because, as you would expect, when a member of the emergency services loses their life whilst doing their job, an examination of the service concerned is absolutely proper."
Jackson said the loss of Hunt has had a devastating impact on his family, colleagues and the wider community. "He was a dedicated firefighter doing the job he loved, protecting the people of Manchester," he said. "I don't think you can help but be touched by what's happened to Stephen."
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in or near St Paul's Hair World on Saturday, and anyone who may have used the cut-through from Short Street to Oldham Street between 1pm and 3pm that day.
COPY http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news
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