There weren't enough fire crews to cover the emergency. The fire service is constantly cutting out fire stations, reducing crews, and forcing the remaining crews to be "more flexible", i.e. work longer hours. The cuts have been vigorously opposed by the Fire Brigades Union, who are consistently presented in the media as hidebound union barons.

Can anyone give me a good reason why the people (accountants, chief executives and suchlike) who instigated these cuts should not be imprisoned for manslaughter?