In the U.K., 3 Fire Service Command Officers have been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after the Line of Duty deaths of 4 Firefighters during a warehouse fire in 2007. The elected Warwickshire County Council has also been charged with failing to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees.
Firefighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley died in the Line of Duty at that vegetable packing warehouse. In total, 12 Fire Service members were questioned by cops about their conduct during firefighting operations.
Speaking for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Michael Gregory said: "I have reviewed the evidence of the case very carefully and I have decided that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Paul Simmons, Adrian Ashley, and Timothy Woodward with gross negligence manslaughter.
"Mr Simmons and Mr Ashley were watch managers (chiefs) and Mr Woodward was a station manager at the time of the fire, but they all acted as incident commanders before, during and after their colleagues were sent into the burning building. "In that role, they were responsible for making operational decisions while their colleagues tried to put out the fire."
Mr Gregory added: "I have also decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction against Warwickshire County Council for failing to protect the health and safety of its employees and that it is in the public interest to prosecute." The trial starts in April.
