KEY POINTS:
A team of fire experts and investigators was named today to conduct the inquiry into last week's explosion and fire at the Icepak cool store in Tamahere near Hamilton.
The blast and blaze took the life of senior station officer Derek Lovell and injured seven other firemen.
Mike Hall, national commander and chief executive of the New Zealand Fire Service (NZFS), said the team would conduct a "comprehensive, independent investigation".
The report, due in three months, would cover the cause of the explosion and fire and the NZFS's response to the particular circumstances at Tamahere and its management of the incident.
A detailed forensic examination of the fire site would also be completed.
The team is headed by Dr Paula Beever, director of fire risk management, NZFS.
The others are:
* Paul McGill, director of operations and training, NZFS.
* Steven Warner, president of the NZ Professional Firefighters Union.
* Paul Henderson, former chief fire officer of the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, UK, and currently senior fire officer, NZFS.
Mr Hall said the team would be helped by experienced fire investigator, Bob Alexander, from the New South Wales Fire Brigades.
He added he was confident the team would bring the investigation to a conclusion so that the NZFS could minimise the risk of such a tragedy happening again.
The inquiry team would report within 90 days of the terms of reference being finalised, a step expected in the next few days.
- NZPA
