Two British firefighters die in high-rise blaze

Two firefighters were killed when a fire ripped through a 15-storey block of flats in the southern English city of Southampton, officials said on Wednesday.

Two firefighters were killed when a fire ripped through a 15-storey block of flats in the southern English city of Southampton, officials said on Wednesday.

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Dozens of residents had to be evacuated after the fire broke out on the seventh floor at about 8pm (1900 GMT) yesterday. Emergency services were called and about 20 fire trucks and supporting vehicles were sent to the scene.

"The two firefighters will be sadly missed and will leave a devastating hole in the service," said the local chief fire officer, John Bonney.

Two other firefighters were hospitalised with minor burns on their hands.