TWO Salford firefighters have been reliving the horrifying hours they battled to rescue a family from an arson attack on their home.
Neil Hill and Chris Wilcox’s harrowing story comes after the news that one of the casualties, Alana Mian, four, has lost her fight for life in hospital.
The two firefighters decided to speak up in a bid to encourage witnesses to come forward and give evidence to the police.
Young Alana had been in intensive care since the blaze tore through her grandparents’ house in Little Holme Walk, Great Lever, Bolton, on June 23. She died on Friday afternoon, August 1.
Her grandmother Hameeda Begum, 71, was killed in the fire, and Alana’s mother, Saima, 24, and firefighter Steve Morris are still being treated in hospital.
Neil, 35, of Charlton Fold, Walkden and Chris, 34, of Waverley Road, Worsley were on Green Watch at Farnworth station when the call came through to attend the fire.
Chris said: "I went into the house with partner Darren Hartley, both of us wearing breathing apparatus.
"Even though some of the doors were closed we could see the flames licking round the edges - it was like being in a furnace.
"Firefighters from Bolton station managed to locate the grandmother’s body and we helped them take her out. We then went back in and found the younger woman and got her out. This is the worst incident I have ever experienced and the death of the little girl is a total tragedy."
Neil described the horror of seeing close friend and colleague Steve Morris on fire.
Mr Morris, 39, was attempting to rescue Mrs Begum when he was engulfed in a fireball and suffered burns to his back, legs, hands, neck and forearms. He is still in a serious, but stable condition in hospital.
Neil said: "I saw this person head to toe in flames and didn’t even realise who it was.
"We managed to get him to an ambulance where paramedics immediately leapt into action. All Steve’s clothes had been burnt off.
"I have worked at many stations and been involved in a lot of rescues, but this was horrendous.
"The fact that a colleague was seriously injured has devastated everyone - and the knowledge that the little girl has now died brings it all back. Chris and I are not trying to make out we are heroes - the only reason why we have spoken up is because this incident happened over a month ago and we want to jog people’s memories."
Detectives have launched a murder inquiry into the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Jeff McMahon, who is leading the investigation, said: "We still believe there are people out there who are talking to each other about what happened, but not talking to us."
A 22-year-old man and a boy, 12, arrested in connection with the blaze have been bailed until September 24 pending further enquiries. Anyone with information should call: 0161 856 2197.
