2007 Warwickshire warehouse fire

Fire in Warwickshire, England March 2020 September 2023 File:Memorial to the firefighters killed in the 2007 Warwickshire warehouse fire, Bancroft Gardens, Stratford-Upon-Avon, February 2022.jpg The memorial in Bancroft Gardens in Stratford-upon-Avon Atherstone Industrial Estate Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, England 52.1592 -1.6923 type:event_region:GB-WAR inline,title Undetermined 4 Sean McGovernAtherstone firefighter inquests will not reopen, coroner rules https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23717027 BBC News 3 November 2025 16 August 2013 On 2 November 2007 a fire occurred at a warehouse near the village of Atherstone on Stour in Warwickshire, England. Four firefighters from the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service were killed, the largest loss of life for a fire brigade in the United Kingdom in 35 years. In 2012, three of their commanding officers were acquitted of manslaughter charges and Warwickshire County Council was fined for failing to ensure safety at work. The fire At approximately 17:20 GMT on 2 November 2007, a fire broke out in a vegetable packing plant at Atherstone Industrial Estate in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-16651862 Firefighter warehouse deaths: Warwickshire council pleads guilty 20 January 2012 BBC News BBC 20 January 2012Warwickshire warehouse fire https://www.fireconsultancy.co.uk/lessons-archive/commercial-industry/warwickshire-warehouse-fire Fire Consultancy 3 November 2025 Approximately 100 firefighters from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service attended, arriving at 17:51. Four were reported missing after entering the premises; one, Ian Reid, was rescued but died later in hospital.Timeline: Warwickshire firefighter deaths https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-16651345 BBC News 3 November 2025 30 May 2012 The bodies of John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley were recovered on 6 November. Aftermath The probable cause was determined to be a naked flame,Meyer Jim Firefighters cleared of manslaughter over death of colleagues in 2007 warehouse blaze https://www.lccsa.org.uk/firefighters-cleared-of-manslaughter-over-death-of-colleagues-in-2007-warehouse-blaze/ Lccsa 3 November 2025 7 January 2014 but the source was not determined. The fire was suspected to be arson;Search to find missing fire crew https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/7077100.stm BBC News 3 November 2025 4 November 2007 four people arrested in May 2009 were later released without charge through insufficient evidence. On 28 February 2011, it was announced that three officers from the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service would face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence over the deaths. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12598130 Charges over Warwickshire firefighters' deaths BBC BBC News Online 28 February 2011 28 February 2011 On 6 May 2011, the three officers appeared at the Warwickshire Justice Centre to face the charges. Warwickshire County Council also faced a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act of failing to ensure the safety of its employees. They were all granted unconditional bail. It was agreed both cases would be dealt with in the Crown Court.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-13312934 Firefighters in court over Atherstone deaths 6 May 2011 BBC News Online BBC 15 May 2011 A hearing took place on 20 January 2012 at Wolverhampton Crown Court at which Warwickshire County Council entered a guilty plea to failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees. On 18 April 2012, the three fire officers – Timothy Woodward, Adrian Ashley and Paul Simmons – appeared in court charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. The trial started at Stafford Crown Court on 20 April 2012;http://www.102touchfm.co.uk/news/local-news/fire-service-managers-on-trial/ Fire service managers on trial. 18 April 2012 Touch News 102 Touch Fm 18 April 2012 https://archive.today/20120720103546/http://www.102touchfm.co.uk/news/local-news/fire-service-managers-on-trial/ 20 July 2012 dead Simmons was acquitted on 21 Mayhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18055615 Fire officer Paul Simmons cleared over Atherstone deaths 21 May 2012 BBC News BBC 21 May 2012 and Woodward and Ashley were found not guilty on 30 May.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18251348 Fire officers cleared over Atherstone warehouse deaths 30 May 2012 BBC News BBC 30 May 2012 Warwickshire County Council was fined £30,000 in December 2012.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-20637819 Atherstone fire: Warwickshire County Council fined £30,000 7 December 2012 BBC News BBC 7 December 2012 The incident was the most deadly since seven firefighters died while fighting a fire at a Glasgow warehouse in 1972.Bowcott Owen Firefighters arrested over deaths of four colleagues in warehouse blaze https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/feb/24/men-arrested-fire-vegetable-warehouse 11 June 2018 The Guardian 24 February 2010 References 30em Category:2007 disasters in the United Kingdom Category:2000s fires in the United Kingdom Category:2007 fires in Europe Category:2007 in England Category:2000s in Warwickshire Category:Building and structure fires in England Category:Disasters in Warwickshire Category:November 2007 in the United Kingdom Category:Warehouse fires