Union's 'free Yarl's Wood detainees' call

The FBU believes lives are in danger at the site

Firefighters have called for asylum seekers at a fire-ravaged detention centre to be set free because the building is unsafe.

About 250 asylum seekers are still being held at the Yarl's Wood complex, near Bedford, where riots caused an estimated £38m of damage.

The Fire Brigade's Union (FBU) said the lack of evacuation procedures and proper fire training for Group 4 guards at the centre was putting the lives of refugees and firefighters in danger.

The union is also calling for an independent public inquiry to examine fire precautions at the centre.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said: "The detainees that are remaining in Yarl's Wood should be set free immediately on temporary release for their own safety."

Firefighters damp down at Yarl's Wood

The warning comes after the Home Office revealed none of the UK's detention centres for asylum seekers are fitted with a fire-sprinkler system.

The FBU said it first raised concerns about the lack of a sprinkler system at Yarl's Wood in October 2000.

A Home Office spokeswoman said on Tuesday sprinklers had not been fitted at any of the other new detention centres at Oakington near Cambridge, Harmondsworth near Heathrow Airport, and Dungavel in South Lanarkshire.

The devices have not been installed at older buildings converted to hold immigration detainees at Campsfield House at Kidlington near Oxford, Tinsley House, near Gatwick Airport, Lindholme near Doncaster, and Haslar near Gosport.

'Wasted money'

The Home Office spokeswoman said: "We took advice from a range of experts and put together a package of safety measures. Sprinklers were not part of that package."

Ashley Gorton, of the sprinkler system supplier Actspeed, said his firm submitted a bid to fit the devices at Yarl's Wood for £350,000 when it was being built in November 2000.

He said: "We had four meetings with the architect and other people, but it got to the point where we heard no more from them.

"It's so frustrating to see that place reduced to ash. It shows you as a taxpayer how money is wasted."

We cannot search the premises because of safety reasons

Bedfordshire Police spokesperson

A total of 25 people are still missing after the riot and fire, but Bedfordshire Police said it did not think any of them died in the fire.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson said: "We have said that until the site is thoroughly searched we cannot be sure that everyone escaped unhurt.

"But it is important to emphasise at present we have no evidence to suggest anyone has died in the fire."

Structural engineers are inspecting the fire scene to determine when police can start investigating the site.

"We cannot search the premises because of safety reasons," the police spokesperson said.