14 July 2013
Last updated at 05:55 ET
The operation to tackle the fire was described as “particularly difficult”
Two 15-year-old girls have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a firefighter was killed tackling a blaze in Manchester.
Stephen Hunt was among 60 firefighters called to the fire in the store-room of Paul’s Hair World in Oldham Street.
A spokesman said the 38-year-old got into difficulty at about 20:35 BST along with another firefighter and both were taken to hospital.
Mr Hunt, a father-of-two, was based at Manchester’s Philips Park Fire Station.
He 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 the shop 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.
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.
“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.
“Stephen had been a dedicated firefighter since 2008 and we are all in a state of shock.”
‘Devastated by news’
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.
Firefighters remain at the scene tackling the blaze and Mr McGuirk paid tribute to their “professionalism, courage and dedication” while “mourning” their colleague’s death.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “There is a great feeling of solidarity amongst firefighters as a result of the job that they do and the risks that they face and this will be keenly felt by firefighters across the UK and indeed internationally.”
Vij Randeniya, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said: “We are all devastated by the news.
“We offer our sincere condolences to Stephen’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”
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Teens arrested as firefighter dies
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