By Danielle Dwyer
Press Association Newsfile
WARWICKSHIRE, England — Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service could be charged with corporate manslaughter over the deaths of four firefighters in a warehouse blaze, police said today.
Ian Reid, 44, Darren Yates-Badley, 24, John Averis, 27, and Ashley Stephens, 20, all lost their lives after entering the burning vegetable packing warehouse on November 2.
It is not yet known why the men were instructed to enter the building.
Police have spent almost four weeks searching the burnt-out site in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, and are treating the fire as suspicious.
Asked whether the Fire Service would face charges, Detective Superintendent Ken Lawrence of Warwickshire Police, said: "It is possible. We are exploring every single possibility and ruling nothing out."
He added that the "meticulous" search of the site had so far provided no clues about the cause of the fire.
He said: "I still don't know what started it. I am erring on the side of caution, treating it as if it was arson, but clearly I would add that I am open-minded about that."
At the time of the fire locals spoke of migrant workers sleeping in the warehouse, but this was not the case on the night of the tragic blaze, Mr Lawrence said.
He added: "Anecdotally I understand that that had happened on occasion but there is no evidence that that had happened that night."
Searches continue at the warehouse but it is set to be a lengthy project, police said.
Mr Lawrence said: "The investigation is a massive task. It is very complex and far reaching.
"It will be several months before we have an accurate picture of what actually took place on November 2."
Chief Superintendent Paul Mason Brown of Warwickshire Police is in charge of operations at the scene.
He said: "The building front to back is nine bays deep. We are searching a bay at a time.
"We want to find out how the fire was caused, how it spread and how it developed.
"Because of the complexity of the operation we do not envisage the investigation at the site will be complete before the end of January or even longer."
He added that the structure remains unstable and deconstruction work is under way to make searches safe for experts at the site.
An air raid-style siren is being used as a safety precaution, he added.
Police continue to interview warehouse workers and have compiled a list of 400 people who were at the site in the days preceding the fire.
They are working through this number aided by translators, Mr Lawrence said.
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