The probable cause was determined to be a naked flame, but the source was not determined. four people arrested in May 2009 were later released without charge through insufficient evidence. 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. 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. Simmons was acquitted on 21 May and Woodward and Ashley were found not guilty on 30 May. Warwickshire County Council was fined £30,000 in December 2012. The incident was the most deadly since seven firefighters died while fighting a
fire at a Glasgow warehouse in 1972. ==References==