Two fire fighters died and four people (including two fire fighters and a police officer) are still in hospital following a fire and subsequent explosions at Festival Fireworks UK Ltd, an explosives site at Ringmer, East Sussex. The site was licensed to store over 20 tonnes of imported fireworks, to prepare fuses and build displays. Inspectors from HSE's Hazardous Installations and Field Operations Directorates and scientists from the Health and Safety Laboratory have been on site since the morning after the incident to assist in the investigation.
East Sussex Police are currently leading the investigation. HSE's role is to support the police investigation; advise on site safety and recovery issues; establish the cause and events leading up to the fire and explosion; and the circumstances leading up to the deaths of the two fire fighters, and injuries to other fire service and police personnel.
The investigation will collect forensic and other evidence, and witnesses will be interviewed. It is too early to determine, or even speculate on, the cause of the incident.
East Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and HSE's Hazardous Installations Directorate are jointly investigating an incident that took place at Marley Farm near Shortgate, East Sussex on the afternoon of Sunday 3 December.
As a result of the fire and explosion at the fireworks depot two firefighters were killed. Two other firefighters, a police officer and one other person are in hospital.
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