Teens Bailed for Manslaughter Following Firefighter Death

Two teenage girls were bailed on Sunday following the death of a firefighter in a Manchester blaze.

The fire broke out in Paul’s Hair World on Saturday afternoon, with around 60 firefighters responding. Two firefighters reportedly got into difficulty at around 8:35 p.m. and had to be rescued by colleagues and taken to hospital. Sadly, one of those firefighters, Stephen Hunt, died in hospital.

Click here to view Figure 1.

The family of the 38-year-old father of two described Hunt as “an old-fashioned gentleman” who “lived to serve his country.” As well as being a firefighter, Hunt also served with the Royal Signals regiment for seven years.

The other firefighter was kept in hospital overnight after suffering burns, but his condition is not life-threatening, according to a statement from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

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.

It is a very sad day for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and all our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and friends.

Details of exactly what happened are unclear at this stage but will be investigated thoroughly and independently.

Click here to view Figure 2.

Early reports suggest the fire could have been started by a cigarette. Two 15-year-old girls were arrested and bailed until September on suspicion of manslaughter as police and fire service enquiries continue.

GMFRS group manager Ian Bailey, who has been leading operations at the scene of the fire, said that he and his crews were “numb and feel utter despair.” Crews were still in attendance today looking for hotspots with thermal imaging cameras and dampening down.

GMFRS described the fire as a particularly difficult incident due to the complex layout of the building and the huge amount of combustible materials inside — hair products such as peroxide, for instance.

Area Manager Warren Pickstone said that crews faced difficult conditions because the fire started in the store room of the shop. Two members of staff were also treated for burns as they tried to fight the fire themselves.

Flags at police stations across Greater Manchester were flying at half mast on Monday in tribute to Officer Hunt. Meanwhile, the Fire Brigades Union’s general secretary, Matt Wrack, called for a thorough investigation into this “terrible incident.” The FBU continued to say that the investigation will draw on experience and expertise from across the country to ensure that it is completed carefully and methodically.