Atherstone-on-Stour announcement
Responding to the announcement made by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Chief Fire Officer for Warwickshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, Graeme Smith said:
"I am shocked and saddened to hear that three of our fire fighters have been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
“The announcement made today will not only impact upon the Service here in Warwickshire, but it could potentially have significant ramifications on a national scale.
"Like everyone else, we have only just heard the announcement and we will have to wait for details of the allegations before we can properly consider the implications of what has been a complex three year investigation. The investigation has placed obvious strains on individuals and their families and this announcement will place further pressures on our firefighters.
"Our thoughts are also with the families and friends of those who lost their loved ones. Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service will never forget our colleagues, Ian Reid, Darren Yates-Badley, John Averis and Ashley Stephens whom we lost at the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour on the 2 November, 2007."