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.

12 people now confirmed dead and number still expected to rise- LFB.

I was under the impression that insurance didn't cover contents. I live in flats and have contents insurance. I don't have building insurance as it's owned by the council and they have buildings insurance.

Fire investigate teams are very experienced but it will be tough to tell where. But worse fires have had accurate causes found.

Is it really going to be possible to pin this down to a specific brand of fridge? The place is gutted.

Like pp said, there's going to have been a chain of unfortunate failings that have joined up to make the outcome, it will most likely be no one thing at fault.
The fridge may well have been the start point, but it could have been the electrics or something rather than the fridge itself.
However, the cladding seems to have been the major factor in it being so horrific.

That's correct regarding insurance. My Aunt lives in a council house and only has to have contents insurance. Only people that might need a building insurance are those who have brought the lease of a property- mortgage companies expect insurance.

If you rent are you less likely to have contents insurance as if you have a mortgage it is a condition that you have buildings insurance and quite often they are bought together, so prompting you to get the contents insurance.

I'm surprised to learn that it has gas. After Ronan Point I though gas supplies were taken out of high rise flats.

Yet again I've been completely overawed and humbled by our emergency services.
They are fantastic.
So, so brave.

All house owners with a mortgage in Scotland must have buildings insurance as a condition of their mortgage. Even if it's a flat.

We didn't yet know for sure if a fridge itself was the cause. Or whether there was a power surge.

Nor what role the cladding, or anything else about the construction and the refurbishment, contributed to the spread.

Or if there were any other factors, such as the fractured gas main that has just been mentioned in a Fire Service press conference.

Yes, there needs to be a fuss about it, and I can see the urge to do something. But it might be worth waiting until there 's a clearer idea of what needs doing.

In the meantime, there's a separate thread about domestic fire safety. Has everyone on this thread done a recent check at home?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2954383-Fire-checks-do-them-today-please?msgid=69759988#69759988

Death toll will rise again according to the Police and they do not have a confirmed number of all that are unaccounted for.

A man I know, who was a fireman for decades, said his immediate thought that it would be something to do with the gas supply. I can't remember the specifics and technicalities but he said each flat should ideally have a sealed gas pipe providing the supply but that they might have done some cost cutting in this regards and there may be a cheaper building wide gas supply.

But the majority of the building has now been searched and the fire fighters have reached the top floor.

What a horrible tragedy, I feel for everyone involved.

I think that's a bit unfair cote. There are caretakers and porters who live in flats in the tower. The staff are trying to do a job and it's not always an easy one. Its unlikely one person dropped the ball isn't it?

I was under the impression that insurance didn't cover contents. I live in flats and have contents insurance. I don't have building insurance as it's owned by the council and they have buildings insurance.

Perhaps an easier way to explain it is that if you set fire to your own house by leaving a candle on, you will need your own insurance.

But if your electrician sets fire to your house, then his (third party) insurance will pay, because he's liable. So it doesn't matter whether you have your own insurance.

It sounds like residents and councillors have been voicing concerns regarding fire safety for years. There seems to have been a catalogue of delays to improvements to fire safety at the block and across the uk :(

One of the residents who was interviewed in the morning programmes said that one of the complaints by tenants was about the renovations installing visible gas pipes on the only staircase in the block. If this is true it sounds like madness.

34 remain in Hospital. 18 of those being in critical care.

This completely breaks my heart. I cannot imagine the emotions everyone is going through, emergency services included. How they manage to control their emotions, and focus on their job amazes me. When I heard the number of deaths increased from 6 to 12, I could have cried my eyes out. The fire service are heroes, and my DS (2) completely idolises them.

Several people remain unaccounted for but no specific number.

Reports just said that they are "confident they will find no more survivors "
How bloody sad.

I am surprised that the death toll is not so much higher given the number of people living there and the time it happened.

Obviously am aware that they said the death toll is likely to increase but are there hundreds of people who have managed to escape already?
Lovely to hear of the stories of the local community rallying round and offering up their homes etc, this is what makes Britain great.

I've just shed a tear watching the press conference after being in the verge of it all day. I can't comprehend the desperation felt by the residents and their family's.

I'm absolutely blown away by our emergency services, the sheer bravery of the fire fighters. Wow

Being a fireman/woman must take nerves of absolute steel. To be on the top floor of that building in its current state. I can't even imagine it.

I agree Zoflora - am sadly convinced it will rise significantly :( My heart goes out to everyone that have been affected by this tragedy, our amazing emergency services included.