fireman stephen hunt , 38 , died after he and a colleague got into difficulties battling a fire started at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter on july 13 , 2013 . a 16-year-old girl charged with arson after she discarded a cigarette causing a city centre shop blaze which claimed the life of a firefighter had the charge dropped today after a judge said she was ` guilty only of being careless ' . fireman stephen hunt , 38 , lost his life tackling the inferno which began at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter almost two years ago . the girl - who was just 15 at the time - is said to have dropped a cigarette to the floor while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . she was originally charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered , but was cleared having been due to stand trial on monday . barcelona midfielder xavi will have a significant contribution to make during the final months of the season as the catalans attempt to repeat 2009 's historic treble victory , according to manager luis enrique . the 35-year-old barcelona star recently travelled to qatar to discuss a possible switch to al sadd ahead of next season and has managed just five starts in 21 games during 2015 . however , after xavi assisted jeremy mathieu 's winning goal against celta vigo on sunday , enrique believes the midfielder has a vital role to play . barcelona manager luis enrique insists xavi has a vital role to play in the club 's hunt for the treble . xavi congratulates jeremy mathieu after setting up the frenchman 's winner in the 1-0 over celta vigo . midfielder xavi has managed just five starts for barcelona in 21 games since the turn of the year . enrique talks at tuesday 's press conference ahead of barcelona 's la liga clash with almeria on wednesday . ` xavi is an important player for us in any month of the year , ' said enrique . ` he is the player that has played most games in a barça shirt and will decide -lrb- his future -rrb- . he knew it would be a special year for him and he has accepted it . he helps us both on and off the field . ' with the treble still possible , the la liga leaders face alemria on wednesday , play athletic bilbao in the final of the copa del rey and take on paris saint-germain in the quarter-finals of the champions league . after more than a year of legal wrangling , with scientists initially stating that the fire could not have been started accidentally , further investigation led to the conclusion a discarded cigarette could have been the cause . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as frightened passers-by watched on . father-of-two mr hunt , of whitefield , manchester , and another fireman , got into difficulties while tackling the fire and they were rushed to hospital where mr hunt was pronounced dead . at manchester crown court , prosecutor alexander leach said thin and damaged cardboard boxes and paper labels stored behind the fire door at the business may well have caught fire if a cigarette was discarded . he said : ` combined with the suggestion that boxes may have been on top of the smouldering cigarette , compressing and containing the heat , this made it more likely items would ignite . the salon was totally gutted when an inferno started by a discarded cigarette ripped through it . the 16-year-old girl who started the fire was today told she will not face trial for arson as she had only been ` careless ' the family of stephen hunt visit the scene where he died . the girl who started the fire is said to have dropped a cigarette while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . firefighters enter the remains of music venue nq live in manchester which was also destroyed by the fire -lrb- left -rrb- . dozens of floral tributes to fireman stephen hunt were left at the scene -lrb- right -rrb- . ` it was a hot day and there was a gap beneath the door and as a result experts were unable to exclude a chimney effect as air was drawn under the gap underneath the door and the fire began . ` the conclusion is the crown 's case , which had previously been based on scientific evidence which excluded accidental ignition , can no longer be sustained , so i offer no evidence . ' the teenager , who did not attend court , was initially arrested along with another 15-year-old girl but she was the only one charged . throwing the case out , judge michael henshell said : ' i spent some time reading the papers and reports and it is perfectly obvious this terrible and tragic case demonstrates the danger and potential danger from discarded cigarettes . a fireman patrols the scene in manchester 's northern quarter where his colleague was killed . more than 1,000 firefighters , emergency service staff and members of the public lined the streets of bury for mr hunt 's funeral . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as passers-by watched on . ` this was discarded without any thought and as a result a fire started in circumstances which were particular to the site in question , resulting in extensive damage and costing the life of a man who , as part of his employment , was there to protect life and property . ` it was a terrible consequence for a thoughtless act . the girl who had been charged and faced trial was , in fact , blameless so far as criminal law is concerned and guilty only of being careless . ' in september 2013 more than 1,000 firefighters , emergency service staff and members of the public lined the streets of bury for mr hunt 's funeral . in a tribute to him at his funeral , his son sam said : ` to me , he was n't just my dad but my hero , my role model and my best friend . ' following the hearing today , a spokesperson for greater manchester fire and rescue service said : ` we have made no comment on any aspect of the incident and are unlikely to do so until the coroner 's inquest into stephen 's death has concluded . ` safe to say we continue to work with everyone involved in various investigations to find the truth of what happened , not least for stephen 's family but for everyone involved and especially our firefighters . '
teenager charged with arson at manchester hair salon will not face trial . inferno erupted at paul 's hair world in northern quarter on july 13 , 2013 . scientists initially stated the fire could not have been started accidentally . but they now say discarded cigarette near the fire exit could have caused it . stephen hunt , 38 , died after he and colleague got into trouble tackling fire .
fireman stephen hunt , 38 , died after he and a colleague got into difficulties battling a fire started at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter on july 13 , 2013 . a 16-year-old girl charged with arson after she discarded a cigarette causing a city centre shop blaze which claimed the life of a firefighter had the charge dropped today after a judge said she was ` guilty only of being careless ' . fireman stephen hunt , 38 , lost his life tackling the inferno which began at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter almost two years ago . the girl - who was just 15 at the time - is said to have dropped a cigarette to the floor while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . she was originally charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered , but was cleared having been due to stand trial on monday . barcelona midfielder xavi will have a significant contribution to make during the final months of the season as the catalans attempt to repeat 2009 's historic treble victory , according to manager luis enrique . the 35-year-old barcelona star recently travelled to qatar to discuss a possible switch to al sadd ahead of next season and has managed just five starts in 21 games during 2015 . however , after xavi assisted jeremy mathieu 's winning goal against celta vigo on sunday , enrique believes the midfielder has a vital role to play . barcelona manager luis enrique insists xavi has a vital role to play in the club 's hunt for the treble . xavi congratulates jeremy mathieu after setting up the frenchman 's winner in the 1-0 over celta vigo . midfielder xavi has managed just five starts for barcelona in 21 games since the turn of the year . enrique talks at tuesday 's press conference ahead of barcelona 's la liga clash with almeria on wednesday . ` xavi is an important player for us in any month of the year , ' said enrique . ` he is the player that has played most games in a barça shirt and will decide -lrb- his future -rrb- . he knew it would be a special year for him and he has accepted it . he helps us both on and off the field . ' with the treble still possible , the la liga leaders face alemria on wednesday , play athletic bilbao in the final of the copa del rey and take on paris saint-germain in the quarter-finals of the champions league . after more than a year of legal wrangling , with scientists initially stating that the fire could not have been started accidentally , further investigation led to the conclusion a discarded cigarette could have been the cause . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as frightened passers-by watched on . father-of-two mr hunt , of whitefield , manchester , and another fireman , got into difficulties while tackling the fire and they were rushed to hospital where mr hunt was pronounced dead . at manchester crown court , prosecutor alexander leach said thin and damaged cardboard boxes and paper labels stored behind the fire door at the business may well have caught fire if a cigarette was discarded . he said : ` combined with the suggestion that boxes may have been on top of the smouldering cigarette , compressing and containing the heat , this made it more likely items would ignite . the salon was totally gutted when an inferno started by a discarded cigarette ripped through it . the 16-year-old girl who started the fire was today told she will not face trial for arson as she had only been ` careless ' the family of stephen hunt visit the scene where he died . the girl who started the fire is said to have dropped a cigarette while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . firefighters enter the remains of music venue nq live in manchester which was also destroyed by the fire -lrb- left -rrb- . dozens of floral tributes to fireman stephen hunt were left at the scene -lrb- right -rrb- . ` it was a hot day and there was a gap beneath the door and as a result experts were unable to exclude a chimney effect as air was is concerned and guilty only of being careless . ' in september 2013 more than 1,000 firefighters , emergency service staff and members of the public lined the streets of bury for mr hunt 's funeral . in a tribute to him at his funeral , his son sam said : ` to me , he was n't just my dad but my hero , my role model and my best friend . ' following the hearing today , a spokesperson for greater manchester fire and rescue service said : ` we have made no comment on any aspect of the incident and are unlikely to do so until the coroner 's inquest into stephen 's death has concluded . ` safe to say we continue to work with everyone involved in various investigations to find the truth of what happened , not least for stephen 's family but for everyone involved and especially our firefighters . '
while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . she was originally charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered , but was cleared having been due to stand trial on monday . barcelona midfielder xavi will have a significant contribution to make during the final months of the season as the catalans attempt to repeat 2009 's historic treble victory , according to manager luis enrique . the 35-year-old barcelona star recently travelled to qatar to discuss a possible switch to al sadd ahead of next season and has managed just five starts in 21 games during 2015 . however , after xavi assisted jeremy mathieu 's winning goal against celta vigo on sunday , . he knew it would be a special year for him and he has accepted it . he helps us both on and off the field . ' with the treble still possible , the la liga leaders face alemria on wednesday , play athletic bilbao in the final of the copa del rey and take on paris saint-germain in the quarter-finals of the champions league . after more than a year of legal wrangling , with scientists initially stating that the fire could not have been started accidentally , further investigation led to the conclusion a discarded cigarette could have been the cause . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as frightened passers-by watched on . father-of-two mr hunt , of whitefield , manchester , and another fireman , got into difficulties while tackling the fire and they were rushed to hospital where mr hunt was pronounced dead . at manchester crown court , prosecutor alexander leach said thin and damaged cardboard boxes and paper labels stored behind the fire door at the business may well have caught fire if a cigarette was discarded . he said : ` combined with the suggestion that boxes may have been on top of the smouldering cigarette , compressing and containing the heat , this made it more likely items would ignite . the salon was totally gutted when an inferno started by a discarded cigarette ripped through it . the 16-year-old girl who started the fire was today told she will not face trial for arson as she had only been ` careless ' the family of stephen hunt visit the scene where he died . the girl who started the fire is said to have dropped a cigarette while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . firefighters enter the remains of music venue nq live in manchester which was also destroyed by the fire -lrb- left -rrb- . dozens of floral tributes to fireman stephen hunt were left at the scene -lrb- right -rrb- . ` it was a hot day and there was a gap beneath the door and as a result experts were unable to exclude a chimney effect as air was drawn under the gap underneath the door and the fire began . ` the conclusion is the crown 's case , which had previously been based on scientific evidence which excluded accidental ignition , can no longer be sustained , so i offer no evidence . ' the teenager , who did not attend court , was initially arrested along with another 15-year-old girl but she was the only one charged . throwing the case out , judge michael henshell said : ' i spent some time reading the papers and reports and it is perfectly obvious this terrible and tragic case demonstrates the danger and potential danger from discarded cigarettes . a fireman patrols the scene in manchester 's northern quarter where his colleague was killed . more than 1,000 firefighters , emergency service staff and members of the public lined the streets of bury for mr hunt 's funeral . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as passers-by watched on . ` this was discarded without any thought and as a result a fire started in circumstances which were particular to the site in question , resulting in extensive damage and costing the life of a man who , as part of his employment , was there to protect life and property . ` it was a terrible consequence for a thoughtless act . the girl who had been charged and faced trial was , in fact , blameless so far as criminal law is concerned and guilty only of being careless . ' in september 2013 more than 1,000 firefighters , emergency service staff and members of the public lined the streets of bury for mr hunt 's funeral . in a tribute to him at his funeral , his son sam said : ` to me , he was n't just my dad but my hero , my role model and my best friend . ' following the hearing today , a spokesperson for greater manchester fire and rescue service said : ` we have made no comment on any aspect of the incident and are unlikely to do so until the coroner 's inquest into stephen 's death has concluded . ` safe to say we continue to work with everyone involved in various investigations to find the truth of what happened , not least for stephen 's family but for everyone involved and especially our firefighters . '
fireman stephen hunt, 38, died he and got difficulties battling started at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter july 13 2013 charged arson discarded causing a city centre shop blaze which claimed had the charge today after said ` guilty only being '. fireman stephen hunt, 38, lost tackling the inferno which began paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter almost the girl - who just 15 is said dropped a cigarette to while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door set boxes. she originally charged arson being reckless as to life, cleared having due stand monday barcelona midfielder xavi will have a significant contribution make during the catalans attempt repeat 2009 's historic treble victory, according manager luis enrique the 35-year-old barcelona star recently travelled qatar discuss a possible switch al sadd ahead and has managed just five starts 21 games during 2015. however, after xavi assisted jeremy mathieu 's winning goal celta vigo on sunday enrique believes the midfielder a vital role. barcelona manager luis enrique insists xavi has a vital role the club 's hunt treble. xavi congratulates jeremy mathieu after setting the frenchman 's winner 1 over celta vigo. midfielder xavi has managed just five starts barcelona 21 games since the turn. enrique talks at tuesday 's press conference ahead barcelona 's la liga almeria wednesday. ` xavi is an important player any month, ' said enrique. ` he is the player has played most games a barça shirt will decide -lrb- his future -rrb-. he knew a special year has accepted. he helps both on and. ' with the treble still possible, the la liga leaders face alemria on wednesday, play athletic bilbao in the final the copa del rey and take paris saint-germain the champions league after, with scientists initially stating the fire could started accidentally further investigation led a discarded cigarette more than 60 firefighters battled, erupted july 13 2013 as frightened passers. father-of-two mr hunt, of whitefield manchester and another fireman got into difficulties while tackling they rushed mr hunt at manchester crown court, prosecutor alexander leach said thin and damaged cardboard boxes and paper labels stored behind the fire door at the business may well caught if a cigarette discarded. he said : ` combined the suggestion boxes may on top the smouldering cigarette, compressing and containing the heat, this made more items ignite. the salon was totally gutted when an inferno started by a discarded cigarette ripped. started the fire was today told trial as had only ` careless the family of stephen hunt visit where he died. the girl started the fire is said dropped a cigarette while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door set boxes. firefighters enter the remains music venue nq live manchester which also -lrb- left -rrb-. dozens floral tributes fireman stephen hunt were left -lrb- right -rrb-. ` it a hot day there a gap beneath as a result experts unable exclude a chimney effect as air drawn under the gap underneath began. ` the conclusion the crown 's case, which had previously based scientific evidence which excluded accidental ignition, can no sustained so i offer no evidence. ' the teenager, did attend court, initially along but she the. throwing the case out, judge michael henshell : i spent reading reports it perfectly obvious this terrible and tragic case demonstrates the danger and potential danger from discarded cigarettes. a fireman patrols in manchester 's northern quarter where his colleague. more than 1,000 firefighters, emergency service staff members lined bury for mr hunt 's funeral. more than 60 firefighters battled, erupted july 13 2013 as passers. ` this was discarded without and as a fire started circumstances particular the site in, resulting costing, as part his employment there life ` it a terrible consequence a thoughtless act. the girl had charged and faced was, in blameless so criminal law and guilty only being careless. ' in september 2013 more than 1,000 firefighters, emergency service staff members lined bury for mr hunt 's funeral. in a tribute him at, his son sam said ` to me, n't just my dad my hero, my role model ' following the hearing today a spokesperson greater manchester fire and : ` we made no comment any aspect unlikely do the coroner 's inquest stephen 's death. ` safe we continue everyone various investigations find, not least for stephen 's family but everyone and especially our firefighters. '
fireman stephen hunt , 38 , died after he and a colleague got into difficulties battling a fire started at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter on july 13 , 2013 . a 16-year-old girl charged with arson after she discarded a cigarette causing a city centre shop blaze which claimed the life of a firefighter had the charge dropped today after a judge said she was ` guilty only of being careless ' . fireman stephen hunt , 38 , lost his life tackling the inferno which began at paul 's hair world in manchester 's northern quarter almost two years ago . the girl - who was just 15 at the time - is said to have dropped a cigarette to the floor while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . she was originally charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered , but was cleared having been due to stand trial on monday . barcelona midfielder xavi will have a significant contribution to make during the final months of the season as the catalans attempt to repeat 2009 's historic treble victory , according to manager luis enrique . the 35-year-old barcelona star recently travelled to qatar to discuss a possible switch to al sadd ahead of next season and has managed just five starts in 21 games during 2015 . however , after xavi assisted jeremy mathieu 's winning goal against celta vigo on sunday , enrique believes the midfielder has a vital role to play . barcelona manager luis enrique insists xavi has a vital role to play in the club 's hunt for the treble . xavi congratulates jeremy mathieu after setting up the frenchman 's winner in the 1-0 over celta vigo . midfielder xavi has managed just five starts for barcelona in 21 games since the turn of the year . enrique talks at tuesday 's press conference ahead of barcelona 's la liga clash with almeria on wednesday . ` xavi is an important player for us in any month of the year , ' said enrique . ` he is the player that has played most games in a barça shirt and will decide -lrb- his future -rrb- . he knew it would be a special year for him and he has accepted it . he helps us both on and off the field . ' with the treble still possible , the la liga leaders face alemria on wednesday , play athletic bilbao in the final of the copa del rey and take on paris saint-germain in the quarter-finals of the champions league . after more than a year of legal wrangling , with scientists initially stating that the fire could not have been started accidentally , further investigation led to the conclusion a discarded cigarette could have been the cause . more than 60 firefighters battled the blaze , which erupted on july 13 , 2013 , as frightened passers-by watched on . father-of-two mr hunt , of whitefield , manchester , and another fireman , got into difficulties while tackling the fire and they were rushed to hospital where mr hunt was pronounced dead . at manchester crown court , prosecutor alexander leach said thin and damaged cardboard boxes and paper labels stored behind the fire door at the business may well have caught fire if a cigarette was discarded . he said : ` combined with the suggestion that boxes may have been on top of the smouldering cigarette , compressing and containing the heat , this made it more likely items would ignite . the salon was totally gutted when an inferno started by a discarded cigarette ripped through it . the 16-year-old girl who started the fire was today told she will not face trial for arson as she had only been ` careless ' the family of stephen hunt visit the scene where he died . the girl who started the fire is said to have dropped a cigarette while standing near the shop 's fire exit which rolled underneath the door and set boxes alight . firefighters enter the remains of music venue nq live in manchester which was also destroyed by the fire -lrb- left -rrb- . dozens of floral tributes to fireman stephen hunt were left at the scene -lrb- right -rrb- . ` it was a hot day and there was a gap beneath the door and as a result experts were unable to exclude a chimney effect as air was
 Fireman Stephen Hunt, 38, died after battling a fire at Paul's Hair World in Manchester's Northern Quarter on July 13, 2013. A 16-year-old girl was originally charged with arson but had the charges dropped due to being "careless" rather than reckless. The incident occurred when she discarded a cigarette butt on the floor while standing near the shop's fire exit, which rolled under the door and set boxes alight.