Two minute silence on anniversary of fire tragedy (From Evesham Journal)

Atherstone-on-Stour fire deaths two minute silence

12:00pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

A TWO-minute silence will be held later today on the fifth anniversary of a warehouse blaze which killed four firefighters.

Ian Reid, Ashley Stephens, John Averis, and Darren Yates-Badley, died after the fire at Atherstone-on-Stour Industrial Estate, on November 2, 2007.

Warwickshire Fire service staff will observe the silence at 7.28pm - the time when crews were called to attend the incident.

In May, three fire bosses were cleared of manslaughter over the deaths. Flags on fire stations will fly at half-mast during the commemorations for the men who died.

The bodies of Mr Stephens, Mr Averis and Mr Yates-Badley were found in the charred remains of the factory. Ian Reid died later in hospital.

Twenty-year-old Mr Stephens and Mr Yates-Badley, 24, were based at Alcester fire station.

Mr Reid, 44, and Mr Averis, 27, were based at Stratford.

The memorial comes after incident commanders Timothy Woodward and Adrian Ashley and fire service officer Paul Simmons were cleared of responsibility for the men's deaths.