Three fire service staff were arrested today in connection with a warehouse blaze which claimed the lives of four firefighters.
Ian Reid, 44, Darren Yates-Badley, 24, Ashley Stephens, 20, and John Averis, 27, died tackling the fire in November 2007.
They were among 80 firefighters at the blaze which took hold of a vegetable packing plant at Atherstone on Stour in Warwickshire.
The building was severely damaged by the suspected arson attack, and the incident has been the subject of a joint investigation by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.
A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said: 'This morning a 43-year-old man from Nuneaton, a 49-year-old man from Leamington and a 48-year-old man from the Warwick area presented themselves at a Warwickshire police station.
'They will be questioned on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.'
Police said they would not be commenting on the positions of the three men in custody, but last month the Fire Brigades Union revealed that detectives were planning to arrest three managers who were involved in the incident command process.
Matt Wrack, the FBU general secretary, said: 'We are concerned at the move to arrest these individuals at this stage when all other key players have not even been interviewed.
'Evidence from our own investigation suggests there may be systemic failings.'
The Warwickshire warehouse where the four firefighters died three years ago. Three fire service staff were today arrested in connection with the deaths
Victims (clockwise from top left): Firefighters John Averis, 27, Ashley Stephens, 20, Ian Reid, 44, and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, lost their lives in the tragedy
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