Grenfell Tower

[RhythmAndStealth]

Watching the news just now and I can't believe my eyes. It looks absolutely horrific.

I want to think everyone got out safe, but sadly I just can't.

Some of the news reports are about alleged poor safety standards and dangerous living conditions. If that's true it just beggars belief.

Nine Firefighters among the Injured but thankfully only minor interests.

minor Injuries.

Many people rescued - once again i am humbled by our emergency services

I had to walk by it. I did not realise what was going on until I got to Shepherds Bush. Never seen so many buses, police cars, police bikes, police vans. Go on not my usual bus and of course soon found out I would have to get off. Friend had texted are you near the fire. What fire? Then heard two guys talk about a block of flats. Couldn't see any smoke so assumed not near where I want to go. Got off by Holland Park and had to try and findout how to get to my destination.

Unfortunately on my travels I came quite close to the flats. Horrible sight. I had to go through many police cordons to get on my way. Just heard from a porter that it started around one last night/morning. He doubted the roads will be opened when I leave at 20.00 so looks likeI will be walking home.

The building would have had a fire risk assessment done on it by law so that report will be the first thing that will be looked at and what the recommendations were for that building. The council will be in big trouble if the report highlighted inadequacies and face recommendations and they weren't acted on or acknowledged at least. That is if the report was adequate in itself.

At least some of these flats were privately owned though - it may not all be social housing

Sorry, coral dreamscapes I don't understand?

Will the firefighters be able to go onto all floors now or will the building be too hot to enter?

There will be so much arse covering going on today it's unreal.
Disgusting but true.

@strawberrygate There were flats for sale on rightmove recently.

Wow I am so impressed that people are still being rescued! What a horrible experience to be trapped like that for nearly 12 hours though.

Many of the flats in that block are leasehold

Just spoke to a relative who worked in the housing department for a local authority. He said there's supposed to be some kind of fire 'stop' between the cladding and the building. He's speculating that this was missing. Of course it's all speculation at the moment.
Just praying that all the missing people are found safe and well.

At least some of these flats were privately owned though - it may not all be social housing

Sorry, coral dreamscapes I don't understand?

She means 'a number of those flats were privately owned', not 'thankfully some of those flats were privately owned'

ah, so you mean lots may be empty?

balence49 that's a strange thing to say. Quite the contrary I can't imagine there will be any immediate blame going on. No one is going to say anything until the investigations and inquests are complete and that could be years. It's just common sense.

I see squoosh thought it was an odd thing to be grateful about!

MissEliza not offence but he wouldn't have the first clue.

"A number of those flats were privately owned" was in reference to why the council may not be responsible for fire alarms / smoke detectors in all individual flats; it is likely that some of those flats are rented out by private landlords too.

Sorry, yes, re-read again - no, not being grateful at all - that was not what I meant. I meant "at least" in a quantitative sense. Apologies for writing something that could be misinterpreted in such a tragic circumstance.

Quite a lot of tensions in the community. You have to hope through riots dont kick off because they solve nothing.

There will be so much arse covering going on today it's unreal.
Disgusting but true.

Yes Indeedy.

Sorry hope my recent post did not sound flippant. Got into work to find out one of our domestic staff lives on 18th floor of that flat and is missing.

11122aa I was thinking that earlier; there's also been quite a few terrorism-related arrests in this area.

@Changedenomnom

Why doesn't he have a clue?

Private contractors haven't been putting in specified internal fire stops when constructing schools and hospitals and many other buildings.

See hospitals
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-s-first-pfi-privately-funded-nhs-hospital-is-a-major-fire-safety-risk-say-fire-fighters-10294388.html

Schools
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eight-pfi-schools-built-by-one-of-uks-biggest-private-contractors-have-fire-safety-issues-10303595.html

KCTMO have a statement on their website

norman smith‏*@BBCNormanS*

Seems to me - given scale of tragedy- Govt will have to announce a public inquiry into #grenfelltragedy