Charges over Warwickshire firefighters’ deaths

Three Warwickshire fire service managers are to face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence over the deaths of four firefighters.

Paul Simmons, Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward were incident commanders at the time of the warehouse blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour in November 2007, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley all died.

The defendants are due to appear before magistrates on 1 April.

Warwickshire County Council also faces a charge of failing to ensure safety at work.

‘Public interest’

The charge against the council was brought under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The bodies of Mr Stephens, 20, Mr Averis, 27, and Mr Yates-Badley, 24, were found in the charred remains of the warehouse. Mr Reid, 44, died later in hospital.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12598130

36 fire fatalities in the last 2 months across the UK

Figures released show that there have been 36 fire fatalities across the UK in the last 2 months.

In a recent press release, CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association), dated 4 February 2011,  stated that there had been 32 fatalities in the last 2 months:

Strathclyde FRS recently reported a ten year high spike in figures and increases in dwelling fires, fire deaths and injuries have been seen in other areas of the country. Peter Holland added, “Tragically we are aware of 32 fatalities which have occurred over the last two months across the UK in Derbyshire, West Midlands, Lancashire, Cheshire, Lothian & Borders, Strathclyde, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Humberside, Essex, South Wales and Tayside.”

Unfortunately on the day of release, tragically a further 4 fire deaths have been reported; one in North Tyneside (source: A 91-year-old woman has died after a fire at her North Tyneside home),  two women died in a tower block fire in Lewisham, London (source: Two women die in Deptford tower block blaze), with another woman from this incident seriously ill in hospital. The day after, on Sunday 5 February, a pregnant girl, aged 17, died in a flat fire in Newport, South Wales (source: Pregnant girl, 17, dies in Newport flat fire).

Shockingly, this brings the total fire deaths to 36 in just two months.

The Fire Brigades Union recently repeated it’s warning that cuts will cost lives, as response times slow (source: FBU says cuts will cost lives, as response times slow).

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “Every second counts when there’s a fire. Our job as firefighters is to rescue people and we aim to get to every incident as quickly as we can.

“But the public should know that cutting firefighter jobs, fewer fire engines and other cuts will delay our intervention. The planned cuts to the service will cost lives if they go ahead. They must be stopped.”

Related links:

Fire Brigades Union

CFOA

BBC News Online

FBU says cuts will cost lives, as response times slow

The Fire Brigades Union is warning that cuts to the fire and rescue service will put lives at risk, after a spate of high-profile house fires. The union advises the public to “get out and stay out” in the event of a fire and to call professional firefighters to tackle any blaze.

However the union is warning that cuts will worsen the service. Government figures show that average response times to house fires have slowed over the last decade from 5.5 minutes to 7.3 minutes.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “Every second counts when there’s a fire. Our job as firefighters is to rescue people and we aim to get to every incident as quickly as we can.

“But the public should know that cutting firefighter jobs, fewer fire engines and other cuts will delay our intervention. The planned cuts to the service will cost lives if they go ahead. They must be stopped.”

The FBU wants fire services and governments across the UK to follow the example of the Scottish government and investigate how to improve response times to house fires.

Contact:
Helen Hague 07889 792 360

Related links:

Fire Brigades Union

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