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Tributes to firefighters lost in Warwickshire warehouse blaze

BBC Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-BadleyBBC
The four firefighters died in the blaze at the warehouse in 2007

Firefighters have paid tribute to four of their colleagues on the anniversary of their deaths in a warehouse blaze.

Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley died after entering the burning building in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, on 2 November 2007.

Sixteen years on, flags were lowered to half mast at stations in the county.

Crews also held moments of remembrance at 19:28 GMT on Thursday.

The fire service said that had been the predicted "time of whistle" for the crew; the point when they were expected to be safely out of the building in air they could breathe.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters at Rugby holding their tributeWarwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
Firefighters at Rugby's fire station held a moment of silence in tribute to their four colleagues

Firefighters at Rugby's fire station posted on Facebook: "Many of us that were there on that day are still in service and will always remember the heart-breaking loss.

"Words cannot do your sacrifice justice. You will always be missed."

After the 2007 fire, Warwickshire County Council admitted a health and safety charge while two fire officers were cleared of manslaughter charges in 2012.

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