Firefighter dies in station blaze

Seems a bit suspicious to me

An off-duty firefighter has died after suffering severe burns at a North Yorkshire fire station.

Timothy Tasane, 46, from Northallerton, died in hospital after the incident at the town's fire station on Wednesday.

Colleagues used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze, which did not cause damage to the building. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

An inquest into his death, which was opened and adjourned on Thursday, heard Mr Tasane died from "massive" injuries.

The firefighter was taken to the town's Friarage Hospital and was later transferred to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where he died.

A spokesman for the fire service said it was a sad loss of a colleague and that investigations into the incident, which happened on Tuesday night, were under way.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it would be offering its support to Mr Tasane's family.

Mr Tasane spent several years at Harrogate Fire Station before transferring to Northallerton Fire Station in 1982.

Northallerton Station Manager Tony Buck said: "Tim was devoted to the fire service and served the community of Northallerton for over 24 years.

"Tim was a keen and enthusiastic firefighter and undertook numerous community fire safety roles working with young people, vulnerable people, prisons and local schools."

Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson said: "Having joined the fire service at the age of 18 Tim served the community of North Yorkshire for over 28 years.

"He was a valued member of the service and his loss will be felt by many people throughout the service and local community.

"I would like to express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends, our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said that officers were requested to attend the incident.

She added: "An investigation for the coroner is under way. There are no suspicious circumstances apparent."

Tim was a great guy and an old friend of mine although I had not seen him for sometime. What must have been going through his mind, God only knows.
R.I.P. old friend
This mornings Northern Echo carried this article about Tim

THE firefighter who died after setting himself alight in a fire station was a modest hero who once pulled a drowning girl from a reservoir, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Father-of-four Tim Tasanne had been a firefighter in North Yorkshire for 28 years.

He was based at Northallerton since 1982, where he worked with schoolchildren and prisoners on community safety issues.

An investigation has been launched after the 46-year-old walked into the station just before midnight on Tuesday, doused his clothes in petrol and set himself alight.

Horrified colleagues, who saw the incident on CCTV, used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze and Mr Tasane was taken to Northallerton's Friarage Hospital.

He was transferred to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he died on Wednesday.

Advertisement continued...
As tributes poured in, it was revealed how, in August 2005, he helped rescue an eight-year-old girl who was drowning in Cod Beck Reservoir, near Osmotherley.

Mr Tasane had been handing out water safety leaflets with a female firefighter when they spotted the girl in difficulties.

The pair tried to reach the youngster with branches but, when that failed, Mr Tasane dived into the water and dragged her to safety.

Fire chiefs and community leaders paid tribute to him last night.

Northallerton station manager Tony Buck said: "Tim was devoted to the fire service and served the community of Northallerton for over 24 years.

"He was a keen and enthusiastic firefighter and undertook numerous community fire safety roles, working with young people, vulnerable people, prisons and local schools."

Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson said: "He was a valued member of the service and his loss will be felt by many people throughout the service and local community.

"I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.

"Every effort will be made to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire continues. No further information is available at this time."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said officers were requested to attend the incident and an investigation for the coroner was under way.

Carl Les, vice-chairman of Hambleton Community Safety Partnership, said: "Tim was a well respected colleague who will be very sadly missed.

"He was a great supporter of the partnership, especially in its educational role, often giving his own time to carry out this work.

"Our sympathies go out to his family."

Mr Tasane had three sons and a daughter. It is believed that his eldest son, who is in the Army, had recently been told he was being sent to Iraq.

Mr Tasane separated from his wife, Karen, a year ago. She moved to Malton with their daughter, while he stayed in Northallerton with two of their sons.

Karen's new partner, Alan, said: "It is a tragedy that his four children have been left without a father.

"They are the people who are suffering most out of this tragic situation.

"I cannot explain his actions. People do strange things sometimes."

Neighbours of Mr Tasane's, in Linden Road, Northallerton, spoke of a well-liked man who seemed not to have a care in the world.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "This has come totally out of the blue.

"I saw him in a pub in town just after New Year and he seemed fine. He was laughing and chatting."

Family members at his home did not want to comment when approached last night.

An inquest into Mr Tasane's death was opened and adjourned by Newcastle coroner David Mitford at the city's Civic Centre yesterday afternoon.

He was formally identified by his son, Ben.

A spokeswoman for the coroner said: "Mr Tasane died from extensive burns. We only took evidence of identification and the family were not present."