Tributes paid to fire officers who died in fireworks explosion

TRIBUTES were paid last night to two fire officers killed when a devastating explosion ripped through a fireworks depot.

The two men who died in the blaze were named as retained firefighter Geoff Wicker, 49, and support officer Brian Wembridge, 63.

Police and senior firefighters have promised a “thorough” investigation into Sunday’s incident, which left 12 other people injured, at Festival Fireworks in Shortgate, near Lewes, East Sussex.