Three fire service managers will face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence over the deaths of four firefighters killed in a Warwickshire warehouse blaze more than three years ago.
The Crown Prosecution Service said a decision to charge Paul Simmons, Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward, all from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, came after a careful review of the evidence.
Firefighters Ashley Stephens, 20, Darren Yates-Badley, 24, John Averis, 27 and Ian Reid, 44, died tackling the inferno at a vegetable packing plant in Atherstone-on-Stour in November 2007.
They were among more than 80 fire-fighters fighting the blaze when large parts of the Wealmoor (Atherstone) Ltd warehouse collapsed.
Mr Reid died in hospital while the bodies of Mr Averis, Mr Stephens and Mr Yates-Badley were recovered at the scene of the fire.
Meanwhile, the CPS said Warwickshire County Council will also face a charge of failing to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees, under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Michael Gregory, reviewing lawyer in the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Following a thorough investigation by Warwickshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive, I have reviewed the evidence in this 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 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 the operational decisions while their colleagues tried to put out the fire.
“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.”
Nine others investigated by police, have been told that there was insufficient evidence to take any action against them.
The defendants will appear at Leamington Spa Magistrates Court on April 1.
