The Hamilton Coroner’s inquest into the death of fireman Derek Lovell at Icepak Coolstores at Tamahere is scheduled for a week starting on Monday, September 5.

Its focus will be on avoiding deaths in similar circumstances in the future.

Senior Station Officer Lovell died and seven other officers were seriously injured when leaking gas ignited while they were investigating an automatic fire alarm at the coolstore on April 5, 2008.

The Hamilton coroner will hold an inquest into the death of fireman Derek Lovell who died in the Icepak Coolstore explosion at Tamahere three years ago.

Senior Station Officer Lovell died and seven other officers were seriously injured when leaking gas ignited while they were investigating an automatic fire alarm at the coolstore on April 5, 2008.

Today, the coroner, Gordon Matenga, held a pre-inquest conference to hear from interested parties who wish to give evidence at the inquest.

A coroner’s inquiry into the death of firefighter Derek Lovell is to get underway next month – just days after the third anniversary of his death following the Icepak Coolstores explosion on April 5, 2008.

Coroner Gordon Matenga has convened a pre-inquest conference on April 28 at the Hamilton District Court to determine the inquest’s likely length.

The aim of the conference is to determine whether people who have registered an interest in Derek Lovell’s death with the coroner wish to give evidence at the inquest, including by witnesses.