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Original poster

Grenfell Tower

999 replies

RhythmAndStealth · 14/06/2017 04:49

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.

OP posts:
Changedenomnom · 14/06/2017 15:45

*It is very likely that someone, somewhere, did not do a good job. Maybe many peop,e did not do a good job. "

"It's as irresponsible to assert that people are blameless before an inquiry as it is to apportion blame before the inquiry"*

OP how is your post not completely contradictory?

paxillin · 14/06/2017 15:46

Even if people are re-housed and miraculously not traumatised and haven't lost loved ones... They lost every spoon, sock and book they own! Just add up what you'd need to replace the bare minimum in your house. Perhaps add some things for comfort. You will see these people need donations even if they are re-housed, clothed and fed for today.

hollyisalovelyname · 14/06/2017 15:46

My deepest sympathy to all those affected.
What a tragedy.

CoralDreamscapes · 14/06/2017 15:47

Trojan

I personally feel that if money was spent on insulation before it was spent on safety essentials and ensuring the building was up to, and above, current regulations, then this will be what went wrong. That's my personal opinion though only, and obviously we don't actually know what went wrong.

FreakOfNurture · 14/06/2017 15:48

Some exhausted fire fighters now being relieved.

AuntieStella · 14/06/2017 15:48

Thanks for the earlier correction about which hospital has the burns unit.

I also saw a piece from outside one of the hospitals, and I really hope I'm quoting correctly now, in which they said that nearly all the hospitalised casualties are being treated for smoke inhalation and there are very few (maybe even none) with burns.

ZaphodBeeblerox · 14/06/2017 15:49

Thank you @Catminion and @CoralDreamscapes
I'll give it a day then and see what seems like the best option. I know people nearby are donating supplies. I also know from other tragedies that once the attention turns away it often gets more difficult to fund longer-term issues.
And well said OP! There's always one person who wants to be deliberately goady under the guise of being "naive".

11122aa · 14/06/2017 15:50

That was from St Mary's hospital. I am not sure if thats the burns unit hospital or not.

KungFuEric · 14/06/2017 15:50

The facts are this is a hugely disproportionate incident that escalated at an alarming rate, likely due to multiple failures that could/should have been prevented.

HunterofStars · 14/06/2017 15:50

My deepest sympathies to all who are effected. Flowers and for our fantastic emergency services who have done and continue to do a sterling job Wine and Flowers.

Changedenomnom · 14/06/2017 15:52

Absolutely Paxilin, the cost of replacing your entire life is huge Sad

Dandandandandandandan · 14/06/2017 15:52

This looks like a good site for donations:

www.dispossessedfund.org.uk

Spangles63 · 14/06/2017 15:54

I was listening to LBC at about 2.25 this morning when the presenter interrupted his programme to tell us of the breaking news about this fire. I am shocked and saddened about this. I am also puzzled as to how the fire could have spread throughout the entire block,and at such speed. I was always under the impression that these towers blocks were designed so that a fire could be contained for a considerable amount of time,allowing the emergency services time to deal with it. The fact that this didn't happen suggests a severe breach of health and safety laws.

TrojanWhore · 14/06/2017 15:54

KungFuEric

You mean a Swiss Cheese scenario?

CoolCarrie · 14/06/2017 15:54

Changedenomnom, are you on the board of KCTMO?

Kokusai · 14/06/2017 15:56

The facts are this is a hugely disproportionate incident that escalated at an alarming rate, likely due to multiple failures that could/should have been prevented.

I agree. There will be a chain of small failures leading ot a total catastrophe.

Catminion · 14/06/2017 15:56

I think the centres are inundated with supplies. The shops in Ladbroke Grove are collecting donations.

I live close maybe 500m and have a clear view - it is still burning on some floors. The whole community is in shock but coming together
to help those affected.

I hope the enquiry gets to the bottom of it - sadly the warnings were there.

CoralDreamscapes · 14/06/2017 15:58

AuntieStella No problem - it's confusing. I only know this through work / being a burns patient previously.

St Mary's will be treating people with more serious smoke inhalation as it's the main ITU / Major Trauma Centre. Chelsea and Westminster will be doing all the burns-related injuries as they have a specialist unit there - it's a fantastic unit and they can get people straight into ITU and theatre if needed. There are over 25 patients being treated at Chelsea and Westminster (they do peads burns too).

AudacityJones · 14/06/2017 15:58

This from the Guardian:
Safeguards intended to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor were temporarily removed from Grenfell Tower during a refurbishment, according to documents from the planning application. - This was in 2016. Unclear if they were replaced.

CoolCarrie · 14/06/2017 15:59

Because your comments certainly suggest biased feelings...

CoralDreamscapes · 14/06/2017 15:59

Catminion Thoughts with you, it must be horrific to have been so close to it all.

user1467099964 · 14/06/2017 16:02

Sorry if this has already been said but why haven't there been any helicopters or water bomber planes spraying water from above like they do in forest fires?
Surely they could have managed this given the length of time people have been alive in there waiting to be rescued-the Thames is not far away!!!
Could some of those gigantic cranes you see in London (for building tower blocks such as this!) have been used to reach the top floors?

What are they playing at.

All we've seen is those poor fire fighters spraying hoses up to the 7th floor mark and risking their lives going by going inside.

This really shouldn't have been going on this long. Its outrageous.

Original poster
RhythmAndStealth · 14/06/2017 16:05

It's not contradictory because I qualified my statements Changed.

"It is very likely", not "it is certain". "Maybe" rather than "definitely". And because I did not apportion blame, i.e. I did not state who was to blame, to what extent.

I said it is appropriate that we look to see if there is blame to be laid, and that an incident such as this is evidence that both specific inquiry and increased scrutiny are warranted.

This is the kind of incident,Changed that makes a country look at itself very closely, and see if anything does need to be changed.

It's not a case of "business as usual, nothing to see here, move along". It is appropriate for people to ask difficult questions, to find out whether current standards have been followed and whether standards need to be improved.

It not a time to say "everything will be fine, everything's being taken care of, don't worry". This is a tragedy that causes people worry, and that worry leads to scrutiny and change.

OP posts:
lobsterface · 14/06/2017 16:05

User - someone has already explained that's not an effective way to extinguish fire

Kokusai · 14/06/2017 16:06

I bet everyone at Rydon Construction and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation are totally totally shitting themselves.