Cameron House Resort in Loch Lomond was fined £500,000 and its employee Christopher O'Malley was given a community payback order to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
In early morning hours, on 18 December 2017, Mr O'Malley emptied a bucket of hot ash into a plastic bag, which he then put in a storage cupboard containing flammable materials. Shortly after, the ash from the bag ignited the materials in the cupboard and hotel staff noticed smoke coming out of the cupboard.
After unsuccessful extinguishing attempts, the fire took hold and spread rapidly across the hotel. Staff and most of the guests evacuated, however, two guests died as a result of smoke and fire gas inhalation on the second floor.
In August 2017 the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service carried out an audit of the hotel and highlighted the unacceptable methods of storing combustible materials in the cupboard. Also, three days before the fire, Mr O'Malley was told not to put ash into plastic bags.
A multi-agency investigation found that the company failed to take the necessary fire safety measures to ensure the safety of the employees and guests. Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard that staff were not properly trained in the safe disposal of ash and no written procedures were in place.
Cameron House pleaded guilty to charges under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and Christopher O'Malley pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
At the time of the fire, more than 200 guests were staying at the hotel.
