http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ller_blaze
Salute to heroes of killer blaze
Paul Britton
23/10/2008
A POLICE dog and its handler have received top police bravery awards.
Dusty and dog handler Pc Michael Dermody, were honoured for their part in the recovery of the bodies of four firefighters from a collapsed factory in Warwickshire.
The horrific blaze resulted in the national fire service's worst death toll for 35 years.
Dusty and Pc Dermody, both based at Rochdale Police Station, answered an urgent call for assistance from police in Warwickshire to help with the treacherous recovery mission.
The blaze at the vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on Stour, last November, is being treated as arson.
More than 80 firefighters were called but four officers - one a newly wed and another the son of a senior Warwickshire fire chief - were trapped after the roof collapsed on top of them.
Specialist police dog Dusty was used to locate the exact area in the sprawling warehouse where the firefighters were killed.
Both Dusty and Pc Dermody entered the building as it was in danger of further collapse.
Trust
A police spokesman said: "The factory was extremely unsafe and was physically moving, therefore any search had to limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
"The officers had to be able to read and trust their dogs."
Dusty indicated four separate areas.
The spokesman added: "Because of this the dogs were able to indicate an area of human remains believed to be that of the missing fire officers. Due to the team's outstanding efforts, the brigade were able to transport the remains of their colleagues out of the building in a dignified funeral cortege."
Pc Jack Roylance and his police dog Toby - who worked alongside Dusty and his handler in the rescue - were also honoured with a Chief Constable's High Commendation at the awards ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall.
Greater Manchester's new chief constable Peter Fahy praised the `exceptional police work, outstanding courage and bravery' of all four.
A number of other Rochdale police officers who received awards.
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