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Safety criticism over fire deaths Safety criticism over fire deaths
(30 minutes later)
An investigation into a blaze which led to the deaths of four firefighters has found officers were not given enough information before attending the scene.An investigation into a blaze which led to the deaths of four firefighters has found officers were not given enough information before attending the scene.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service with an improvement notice after the warehouse fire in November.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service with an improvement notice after the warehouse fire in November.
Ashley Stephens, 20, John Averis, 27, and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, were found dead in the gutted remains.Ashley Stephens, 20, John Averis, 27, and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, were found dead in the gutted remains.
Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour.Ian Reid, 44, died in hospital after the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour.
'Realistic timescale' Alan Craddock, head of operations for the HSE in the Midlands, said it had formed its opinion based on the evidence seen.
Alan Craddock, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands, said it had formed its opinion based on the evidence seen. We are not happy with current wider arrangements on their provision of information Alan Craddock, HSE
He added: "The current arrangements employed by the authority do not comply with the statutory duties to provide its firefighters with all the information they should have to assist them in making the appropriate decisions when attending a fire." He said: "The current arrangements employed by the authority do not comply with the statutory duties to provide its firefighters with all the information they should have to assist them in making the appropriate decisions when attending a fire."
Mr Craddock said the fire authority was being required to make appropriate arrangements to "gather and take action" in response to information about special risks which may be present during incidents. Mr Craddock said the fire service had four months to improve its arrangements for providing information on aspects such as locality of an incident, particular hazards of buildings involved and where a water supply can be found.
He said: "[The notice] indicates the authority should make an action plan for the inspection of premises which ensures links are made between the relevant prevention, enforcement and operations sections of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue." He said: "Our investigation is not just looking at the incident in Atherstone-on-Stour, it is looking at the wider arrangements.
Mr Craddock said this, in turn, should give priority to higher risk premises. "We are not happy with current wider arrangements on their provision of information given to crews attending fires at certain premises.
"This has got to be done within a realistic timescale, taking account of all the information gathered and received," he added. "We therefore this morning issued an improvement notice requiring the authority to make the appropriate arrangements to gather and take action in response to information about special risks which may be present at premises where firefighters may have to deal with emergencies."
A press conference also attended by police heard that another 230 tonnes of debris is still to be removed from the site. 'Legal obligations'
Mr Craddock said the service should make an action plan for the inspection of premises which gives priority to higher risk buildings.
The fire service could appeal against the improvement notice within the next 21 days, he said.
Mr Craddock added the HSE had contacted Sir Ken Knight, the government's chief fire and rescue advisor.
He had issued an alert to all fire services to remind them of their "legal obligations" of making sure information is easily accessible to crews when attending a blaze.
Another 230 tonnes of debris is still to be removed from the burnt-out Atherstone-on-Stour site.