This article was reproduced with the kind permission
of the British Broadcasting Corporation
of the British Broadcasting Corporation
Monday,
4 December 2006, 09:59 GMT
Map: Scene of the fireworks blast
Police are investigating the cause of a serious fire and explosion at a fireworks depot near Lewes in East Sussex on Sunday afternoon in which two fire crew died.
Fire broke out at the Marlie Farm depot, which
stored imported fireworks at 1350, on Sunday 3 December
At 1443 there was an explosion in which two fire
crew - including Brian Wembridge, a fire service photographer
and cameraman - were killed
Two other firefighters were seriously injured,
and two members of the public were also taken to hospital. Emergency
services vehicles were damaged
Buildings on the site belonging to Festival Fireworks
and what police describe as a separate steel fabrication facility
were heavily damaged
A 200-metre exclusion zone has been set up around
the site amid concerns over the presence of up to 20 volatile
gas cylinders. Army bomb disposal squad engineers are present
on site, but police say the cylinders must be allowed to cool
for at least 24 hours before they can be retrieved
Police have closed the passing B2192 road - known
locally as The Broyle
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