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A couple whose Southampton flat caught fire, leading to the deaths of two firefighters, have spoken of their devastation over the tragedy.James Shears, 35, from Poole in Dorset, and Alan Bannon, 38, from Bitterne in Southampton, died on Tuesday night from exposure to excessive heat.
Kirsty Hoffmann said the fire broke out when a curtain caught light from a lamp in their flat in Shirley Towers.
She said: "I'm so sorry for the firemen that have passed away in there."
Fire spread rapidly
She added: "We've lost everything. All I could think of was getting my son out of there and my unborn baby.
"I'm just so sad for them. I've been down for days since it happened. I just haven't been myself."
Her husband Karl said: "We're devastated. At the end of the day they didn't have to risk their lives to have done what they've done."
He said he tried to put out the fire himself but had to give up and leave the flat because it was spreading rapidly. Mr Hoffman said they now have to start again after losing most of what they owned in the fire.
Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed an investigation has started into the deaths and 20 detectives are working on the case.
A spokeswoman said the men were discovered together, in flat 72 on the ninth floor at Shirley Towers, in Church Street, having entered to tackle the blaze.
Footage appeal
She said: "One of the firefighters was pronounced dead at the scene just after 9pm.
"The other firefighter was rushed to Southampton General Hospital where, despite emergency first aid and attempts to resuscitate, he was pronounced dead at 10.35pm."
A post-mortem examination showed both Mr Shears and Mr Bannon, who served with Red Watch at St Mary's Fire Station in the city, died as a result of exposure to excessive heat.
Police want to hear from anyone who took photographs, video or mobile phone camera footage of the fire at the tower block.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Dann said: "The status of the enquiry has not changed since it started on Tuesday night.
"It is an investigation into death in the workplace, under the provisions of the Health and Safety Act, and all such investigations under the terms of that act are classed as criminal investigations.
"We envisage it will take considerable time to complete, and we will report our findings as soon as we are in a position to do so."This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.