This statement refers to the fire at Shirley Towers, Southampton on Tuesday April 6, in which two firefighters lost their lives.
Chief Superintendent Greening said: “Firstly, on behalf of Hampshire Constabulary, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the families of the firefighters lost in this tragic incident.
“We work very closely with our colleagues from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and I know the devastating impact this will have on the organisation.
“We will continue to work very closely with them on investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and in order to determine the cause of this fire and how the firefighters lost their lives.
“We have our full forensic resources and a highly experienced team of detectives dedicated to this investigation. Two of our Family Liaison Officers have also been assisting the fire service in liaising with the families of the firefighters who died.
“Police officers remain at the scene at Shirley Towers this morning, and assisted last night in moving residents affected by the fire to safety at a local rest centre.
“Residents were moved from 24 flats, and we are awaiting further details from Southampton City Council as to how many remain at the centre.
“We recognise that this is hugely disruptive for residents of the towers, and understandably people are worried about their property and their pets. Such is the nature of this incident, we cannot give exact timescales for when you can return to your home, but I can assure you that we will return them to their properties just as quickly as we possibly can, once we are sure the building is fit to return to and the vital preliminary inquiries are complete.
“In the meantime, Southampton City Council has plans and provisions in place to look after your welfare. We thank the community for their patience and assistance during this tragic investigation.”
