Source: Daily Liberal, Dubbo
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ARSON has been ruled out as investigators continue to examine the scene of a fire that destroyed an iconic Cobar pub.
Cobar firefighter Daniel Howard, 37, died and a colleague suffered a broken arm during a wall collapse as the pair battled a blaze that gutted the New Occidental Hotel.
“At this stage we can rule out a deliberate cause but obviously how that fire started, where it started, a full report will be prepared for the Coroner,” NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Ian Krimmer said.
Superintendent Krimmer said the organisation had thrown its support behind Mr Howard’s family and local firefighters.
“It’s been a shock for them and everyone in the community,” he said. “We have our critical incident support crews working in Cobar with our chaplains and they continue to provide ongoing support to the family.
“Our Commissioner has spoken with them and there is a lot of healing to be done. Condolences have poured in from chiefs and commissioners across the nation to all NSW firefighters.”
The injured firefighter had been released from Cobar Hospital, Superintendent Krimmer confirmed.
He said Cobar firefighters had been stood down to give them time to grieve Mr Howard, who had been a colleague and friend.
“The word is that they will be keen to get back to work very soon but it’s important they have some time to gather themselves together, they’ve lost one of their co-workers in tragic circumstances,” he said.
“The impact of this tragedy is not just felt by the fire service but all emergency services, many of them were friends of Firefighter Howard as well.
“When the crew is ready they will return in their own time.”
Superintendent Krimmer said Cobar residents could be reassured full emergency services would continue to be provided, with firefighters from Dubbo and Delroy stations relieving in the town on a roster basis to respond to emergencies.
A structural engineer, fire investigators and accelerant-detecting dogs had visited the scene in the aftermath of the blaze.
“An extensive investigation by a number of agencies continues to take place, it is still a site of devastation,” Superintendent Krimmer said.
“More firefighters will be interviewed, they themselves have been heavily impacted and that process will take some time.”
Marshall Street remained blocked off and was expected to remain that way until at least the weekend, Superintendent Krimmer said.
“There is a lot of debris across that road,” he said. “There were vehicles damaged, walls are still threatening to collapse so they will need to be pulled down to make the area safe, the clean-up will take some time.”
Earlier this week Commissioner Greg Mullins said firefighters had taken precautions in the event there was asbestos in the building, an issue Superintendent Krimmer reiterated.
“The site has been totally wetted down. we’ve completed our part of the operation. demolition crews will need to go in but the site has been declared safe and been handed over to police.”
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