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Atherstone fire: Warwickshire County Council fined £30,000 | Atherstone fire: Warwickshire County Council fined £30,000 |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A council has been fined £30,000 over the deaths of four firefighters in a blaze at a vegetable packing plant in Warwickshire. | A council has been fined £30,000 over the deaths of four firefighters in a blaze at a vegetable packing plant in Warwickshire. |
The bodies of John Averis, 27, Ashley Stephens, 20 and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, were recovered from the building in Atherstone-on-Stour in November 2007. | The bodies of John Averis, 27, Ashley Stephens, 20 and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, were recovered from the building in Atherstone-on-Stour in November 2007. |
A fourth firefighter, Ian Reid, 44, died later in hospital. | A fourth firefighter, Ian Reid, 44, died later in hospital. |
At the hearing at Stafford Crown Court, Mr Justice Macduff described the deaths as a "dreadful accident". | At the hearing at Stafford Crown Court, Mr Justice Macduff described the deaths as a "dreadful accident". |
Warwickshire County Council pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge in January. | Warwickshire County Council pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge in January. |
Mr Macduff said the fine given "in no way" summed up the cost of the four men's lives but reflected deficiencies in record-keeping and information given to fire crews at the time. | Mr Macduff said the fine given "in no way" summed up the cost of the four men's lives but reflected deficiencies in record-keeping and information given to fire crews at the time. |
He added the investigation had cost £5m in total and he had issued a £30,000 fine because he "didn't want the public purse to suffer any more than it needed to." | He added the investigation had cost £5m in total and he had issued a £30,000 fine because he "didn't want the public purse to suffer any more than it needed to." |
Mr Macduff also said he was satisfied the authority was now in "full and proper health". | Mr Macduff also said he was satisfied the authority was now in "full and proper health". |
Unlike most other fire services, Warwickshire is overseen by Warwickshire County Council. | Unlike most other fire services, Warwickshire is overseen by Warwickshire County Council. |
Speaking after the sentencing, Warwickshire's community safety spokesman, councillor Richard Hobbs, apologised for the fire authority's failings. | Speaking after the sentencing, Warwickshire's community safety spokesman, councillor Richard Hobbs, apologised for the fire authority's failings. |
Mr Hobbs said: "We pleaded guilty to the charge because we recognised and accepted that there were failings on our part back in 2007. | Mr Hobbs said: "We pleaded guilty to the charge because we recognised and accepted that there were failings on our part back in 2007. |
"No fire service can guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong again but we are confident that our service is as safe as it can be." | "No fire service can guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong again but we are confident that our service is as safe as it can be." |
He also paid tribute to the four men who lost their lives and said the council offered its "deepest condolences to their families and friends." | He also paid tribute to the four men who lost their lives and said the council offered its "deepest condolences to their families and friends." |
'Absolute nightmare' | 'Absolute nightmare' |
In May, three fire service managers were cleared of manslaughter in relation to the blaze at the vegetable packing plant. | In May, three fire service managers were cleared of manslaughter in relation to the blaze at the vegetable packing plant. |
The Crown said Warwickshire County Council had failed in three main areas. | The Crown said Warwickshire County Council had failed in three main areas. |
It said there had been problems over the water supply, that training for the firefighters had been ineffective and that the fire engines had not been carrying adequate information about high-risk buildings like the Atherstone warehouse. | It said there had been problems over the water supply, that training for the firefighters had been ineffective and that the fire engines had not been carrying adequate information about high-risk buildings like the Atherstone warehouse. |
The judge said only the last point was a failing that needed to be taken into account. | The judge said only the last point was a failing that needed to be taken into account. |
He said over the past five years he was satisfied that Warwickshire Fire Service - one of the smallest in the country - had remedied all these issues and was now an example to many others. | He said over the past five years he was satisfied that Warwickshire Fire Service - one of the smallest in the country - had remedied all these issues and was now an example to many others. |
Up to 100 firefighters, from Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester and the West Midlands, and five ambulance crews were sent to the blaze at the site owned by Wealmoor Atherstone Ltd on 2 November 2007. | Up to 100 firefighters, from Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester and the West Midlands, and five ambulance crews were sent to the blaze at the site owned by Wealmoor Atherstone Ltd on 2 November 2007. |
Firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. | Firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. |
On the morning of the 3 November, Warwickshire Police confirmed three firefighters were missing. | On the morning of the 3 November, Warwickshire Police confirmed three firefighters were missing. |
On 16 November the identities of the three missing men were confirmed as Mr Averis, from Tredington, and Mr Yates-Badley and Mr Stephens, both from Alcester. | On 16 November the identities of the three missing men were confirmed as Mr Averis, from Tredington, and Mr Yates-Badley and Mr Stephens, both from Alcester. |
Mr Reid, from Stratford, died in hospital. | Mr Reid, from Stratford, died in hospital. |
His widow, Julie Reid, said: "No matter what amount of fine is imposed, it will not bring Ian back or turn the clock back so that I can stop him attending the fire on that fateful night. | |
"The judge said at a previous hearing that if he imposed a large fine, the only losers would be the taxpayers. | |
"I would like to remind him that the losers in this tragic event are the four men who lost their lives and their still deeply grieving families." | |