Girls (15) held after fireman dies in Manchester blaze

Teenagers arrested on suspicion of arson after fire at hair salon

Firefighters at the scene of a fire at Paul’s Hair World in Oldham Street, Manchester, where firefighter Stephen Hunt was killed whilst tackling the blaze. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
Firefighters at the scene of a fire at Paul’s Hair World in Oldham Street, Manchester, where firefighter Stephen Hunt was killed whilst tackling the blaze. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Two 15-year-old girls have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a firefighter was killed tackling a blaze at an English hair salon.

Firefighter Stephen Hunt (38) was part of a team responding to a fire at Paul's Hair World in Oldham Street, Manchester, when he and a colleague got into difficulties last night.

Both were pulled from the building and taken to hospital but the father-of-two was declared dead on arrival.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "A joint investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and two 15-year-old girls have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter".

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Detective Superintendent Phil Owen said: "We are working with our colleagues from the fire service to establish how this fire, which has tragically claimed the life of a fire fighter, started.

“We have already arrested two juveniles in connection with the fire and our enquiries are continuing.

“If anyone has any information about how the fire started please get in touch.”

PA