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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:
PerkingFaintly · 14/06/2017 08:14

I remember other recent major fires spread after refurbishments diminished the original fire prevention measures.

Metal windows were replaced with flammable PVC, and a fire spread up the outside. Internal firewalls were cut through by workmen installing service ducts.

The people working on the blocks had no grasp of the original fire prevention measures.

FreakOfNurture · 14/06/2017 08:15

You can see now where the fire travelled from the fourth floor upwards and then along a vertical cladding join on a slightly higher floor, and then up the whole building - in minutes.

The inferno on those upper floors was not survivable.

MercuryMadness · 14/06/2017 08:16

coraldreamscapes

Really? But why does every single hotel I have ever stayed in give detailed escape routes in case of fire? Never seen a sign in a hotel saying "stay in your room"

Surely it must be better for people to try to get out?

Genuine question, not trying to be toady on a tragic day.

CoolCarrie · 14/06/2017 08:17

I bet it was the cladding on the outside that allowed this to spread so quickly, it is shocking to see this, really shocking. It seems that the powers that be clad the building for energy saving and aesthetic reasons.
Can't stand Morgan but he is making good points about this, but the buck will be passed as always, and the old, weary line " Lessons Will Be Learned " will be wheeled out as it always is! Every time I hear that line I want to scream, heard it yesterday in relation to those feral vile girls murdering that poor vulnerable woman, and so , so many times, and lessons never seem to be learnt

Goingtobeawesome · 14/06/2017 08:17

Dawnedlightly - not crass, very thoughtful and you have a very good point but somehow we watch as we feel so helpless and just hope for good news but there's not going to more good than bad here Sad.

I'm waiting to walk my dog but need to hear if that older man got out.

Frouby · 14/06/2017 08:18

How horrific.

And a telling sign of our society that people live in tower blocks such as this without basic safety precautions for fire in probably the same square mile as multi million pound homes.

The gap between the have and have nots is widening. I would associate a tragedy like this with an inner city in a third world country. Not the heart of one of the richest and most developed cities in the world. Absolutely horrific.

frenchfancy · 14/06/2017 08:18

I've seen a couple of reports saying the fire alarms didn't go off. Awful, just awful.

Goingtobeawesome · 14/06/2017 08:19

I have to go I've forgotten plans so if anyone is watching GMB and they report on the man stuck , please will you be so kind as to let me know? He's partially blind and in his 70's.

PovertyPain · 14/06/2017 08:19

Ffs. When I got an extension I had to get mandatory, electric smoke alarms in. The attic wouldn't be used as a bedroom as its not considered safe as there's no way of escaping in case of a fire.

How were the local council able to get away with less safety precautions than the owner of a small semi?! This is so upsetting. All those poor poor innocent families, sleeping in their beds. I imagine it's going to be hundreds, rather than dozens of people. It's like one of those news reports from the countries with no safety regulations. 😢

CondensedMilkSarnies · 14/06/2017 08:19

I've just woken up to this - dreadful .

I'm an ex LL of a 3 storey , multi occupancy property. The council (rightly so) had me fit a properly wired in fire alarm system . The tenants used to put socks over the smoke detectors so that they could smoke indoors . I used to get really angry - fine if they wanted to risk their own lives but they had no regard for the safety of others.

CoralDreamscapes · 14/06/2017 08:20

MercuryMadness Obviously if you can get out and you know there is a clear route, you get out. If you can't get out the advice is to stay put, call 999 and state which flat you are in and wait to be rescued.

MiddlingMum · 14/06/2017 08:21

Dreadful and horrific.

Let's hope that at least some residents were working night shifts or not there for some other reason.

CoolCarrie · 14/06/2017 08:22

Mercury you are right, of course people should never stay in their rooms or flat. Get Out and Stay Out, Don't go back for anything, always go down, and out of the building never go up.
I remember my electric blanket went on fire and the smoke was unbelievable, my late dad who was an auxiliary fire man, sorted it out, but that was seriously scary, and that was over 30 years ago, but I remember it very well.

MercuryMadness · 14/06/2017 08:23

It makes me furious when people mock health and safety regs. Health and safety regs are the reason we avoid more horror stories like this one. I am glad we have an aggressive health and safety environment in the U.K.

But these poor people....:

There's death. And then there's death in your own house, trapped by fire, desperate to escape, suffocating whilst considering chucking your precious kids out of the window. Jesus Christ.

Orlantina · 14/06/2017 08:23

How can cladding catch fire so easily? Wasn't there a fire in a similar building last year when the cladding caught fire but luckily there were no casualties?

OnionKnight · 14/06/2017 08:23

Fuck, that probably did not help.

Grenfell Tower
Vanillaisboring666 · 14/06/2017 08:25

This is so so upsetting. I can't imagine the terror those poor residents must have and are feeling. Imagine having to decide to throw your child and yourself out the window or wait for help that may or may not arrive in time if at all. So so sad .

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 14/06/2017 08:25

mercury I'm glad you said that

I work in a hazardous place where fire is a possibility. When we have evacuated in the past people have been so dismissive

Health and safety should never be mocked

hackmum · 14/06/2017 08:26

CoolCarrie: 'Can't stand Morgan but he is making good points about this, but the buck will be passed as always, and the old, weary line " Lessons Will Be Learned " will be wheeled out as it always is!'

And of course the lessons could have been learned beforehand - reading that blogpost it seems the residents knew there was a fire risk and had warned the landlords many times, but no action was taken. So the question is: why are these landlords allowed to get away with it by the authorities? What are our MPs doing? Why aren't journalists writing about this in the national press, instead of publishing crap about Kim Kardashian? It's all very well Piers Morgan having a go now, but when was the last time he did some proper investigative journalism?

Nancy91 · 14/06/2017 08:27

I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be to be trapped in those flats. Making the decision whether to throw your children from the windows or stay put and hope for help. I always imagine that fires are put out soon after the fire brigade get there, but it's still raging now Sad

My2favboys · 14/06/2017 08:27

I hope someone gets charged with murder. cause it is. their negligence by either not doing the work or not wanting to pay for the work has led to this. I'm so sad for the people and their families outside watching helpless. there must be consequences, prison for landlord/council/management. they've caused these deaths

CondensedMilkSarnies · 14/06/2017 08:27

I gave notice to one offender and they couldn't for the life of them see the problem. Angry

HemanOrSheRa · 14/06/2017 08:28

Mercury I work for a large local authority. We have a 'Sit Tight' policy and it does work. You really do not want an entire building of people trying to get down a staircase in the event of a fire. The fire service will be trying to get UP the same staircase to access the building. In the very few building fires I have been involved in the only people to be injured are those who ignored the advice.

However, our buildings have working mains/central fire alarms that are CHECKED REGULARLY. The main corridors/landings are painted with fire retardant paint and have fire retardant flooring. All of the doors are fire doors.

Depending on the layout of the building - a fire on one side of the building will have no impact on the other side. It therefore makes little sense for those people to evacuate.

Something is terribly wrong here though. As coral says with the correct precautions and safety measures in place there is no way a fire should get hold and rip through a building so quickly. No way. Sad.

Teutonic · 14/06/2017 08:28

A terrible, terrible tragedy.
I've just read about a poor mother who tried to escape with her 6 children, by the time she got out, 2 were missing. That poor lady. She must be going mad with worry and grief.
I have nothing but praise for the fire and ambulance crews, some of the things that they witness must be devastating.
My heart goes out to all involved.

CondensedMilkSarnies · 14/06/2017 08:30

Jesus Christ that poor man waving for help Sad