UPDATE: Search operation progress at devastated Mansfield house

Parts of the roof and upper floor are removed to allow firefighters to search the ground floor. The operation is expected to take several days.

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue tackled the fire early yesterday (April 13) which spread throughout the house on the corner of Austin Close and Sanders Avenue, bringing down the roof and collapsing walls and floors.

And as the brigade said they are not yet able to confirm all occupants of the house are accounted for, the race continues to search through the rubble and debris.

This morning the operation was well underway with progress being made to remove the roof and upper floor and enable a safe search through the debris.

Group Manager for the operation Richard Melanaphy told: "We can't confirm at this time that all persons are accounted for. Firefighting operations to search the house continue until we can be certain all persons are accounted for.

"This was a rapidly developing scene. We currently have two fire engines there and an aerial ladder platform. When fire crews arrived they found a severe fire at a two storey house and it's left the house structurally unsound both internally and externally.

"There aren't any floors anymore and there are several metres of fire debris and rubble where parts of the house have came in. We haven't yet fully searched inside and we can't at this time complete our search.

"This is an ongoing fire service incident.”

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue works alongside Environmental Services Contractors workers to clear the site.

Firefighters have support units on site as they prepare for a major operation expected to take several days.

The station boss added: "Firefighters were faced with a very intense, a hot and dangerous fire when they arrived and they quickly got jets to work and out out the fire. The fire is extinguished and damping down operations have been continuing."

A police officer at the scene said the house was still embering, even as Specialist Environmental Contractors workers are on site.

Some seven ambulance vehicles were also in attendance at a major fire last night as specialist Hazardous Area Response Teams were required to provide support in the dangerous environment.

The incident took place in the early hours of April 13, devastating the house in Mansfield. (Image taken Wednesday, April 13).

East Midlands Ambulance Service said the crews have since been stood down.

Emily Dunn of EMAS said: "During the early hours of this morning we were called to a house fire on Austin Close in Mansfield. We sent our full Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the fire as they have specialised skills and equipment to support large scale incidents. The HART team remained on scene to support the fire service until around 6am this morning.

"No patients were taken to hospital."