Correct me if I'm wrong, but from memory wasn't the BA 744 engine shut down due to a fire warning ? Even a precautionary shutdown demands a landing at the nearest suitable airport. I fly a Boeing twin and if I ever have an engine fire successfully extinguished I am going to LAND at the nearest suitable airport. Any thought of continuing to destination is folly (unless it is the nearest suitable anyway). Having had a fire, how do you know what if any associated damage has been caused and to what system or component, four engines or otherwise ? Just my take on things and I'm sure there will be plenty of armchair experts out there who will be only too willing to shoot me down in flames (ouch). Slightly off thread for which I apologise.