Tower block fire - london

[LOAM]

Apparently it was reclad in 2016. Not sure what though but look at the pictures and videos it could well have been one of those cheap Chinese made aluminium composite things.

It doesn't look cladded to me, although it apparently is.

 

[Nasher]

Residents are saying the smoke/fire alarms didn't go off.

So prison for whoever owns the building, or is responsible for it's maintenance. Unless they are a millionaire or a politician ofc.

 

[stuie]

Its council owned, so apologies will be released, blame will be shifted about and facts hidden until it all blows over

 

[Azza]

Here we go ...

http://www.studioe.co.uk/?portfolio=grenfell

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Its council owned, so apologies will be released, blame will be shifted about and facts hidden until it all blows over

Council owned, but Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation are responsible for maintenance.

 

[Andrew_McP]

I heard this on the radio driving to work, horrific. Apparently those living in the tower block did complain on multiple occasions regarding fire safety, but nothing was done about it

From my experience helping manage a block of 36 flats (as a resident director) no matter how many times you tell people about keeping hallways clear, and no matter how many letters you post or clearances you carry out, many people don't or won't take fire safety seriously. Tackling serial offenders can be expensive, time consuming and often futile, which is very frustrating.

The 'good' news about this awful event is that something has clearly gone very wrong with the cladding. This is going to be horrible.

Edit: I see the complaints in question included concerns about the cladding. I heard someone on the TV talking about clutter in hallways though, which is what prompted me to type based on personal experience.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Eye witness reports sound horrific. Sounds like some serious issues with official advice too - one person quoted as being told to stay in place? I doubt the age of the building helped this fire. I always assume that with strict regulation today this kind of thing can't happen. Absolutely tragic.

A serious investigation will follow this no doubt.

 

[Feek]

This is terrible, there are going to be hundreds of bodies in there.

 

[Sankari]

Wealthy borough neglecting public infrastructure at the risk of people's lives.

This is utterly Dickensian.

 

[snips86x]

From my experience helping manage a block of 36 flats (as a resident director) no matter how many times you tell people about keeping hallways clear, and no matter how many letters you post or clearances you carry out, many people don't or won't take fire safety seriously. Tackling serial offenders can be expensive, time consuming and often futile, which is very frustrating.

The 'good' news about this awful event is that something has clearly gone very wrong with the cladding. This is going to be horrible.

Edit: I see the complaints in question included concerns about the cladding. I heard someone on the TV talking about clutter in hallways though, which is what prompted me to type based on personal experience.

I don't doubt that managing flats like this is going to be a challenge and this is a terrible example of what happens on both parts. Maybe this will kick start the process for ensuring that, regardless what the cause was, correct safety is observed both sides.

 

[dirtybeatfreak]

Awful news

Thoughts are with everyone affected.

 

[grudas]

Rip. This is only going to get worse over the day, I feel sorry for the people who lost their homes and those that were trapped inside the flats.

 

[TJM]

Residents are telling the Daily Mail that a faulty fridge started the fire. Nothing is confirmed, of course, but some of the more outlandish theories (like petrol in the stairwells) should be taken with a large grain of salt.

 

[antijoke]

Eye witness reports sound horrific. Sounds like some serious issues with official advice too - one person quoted as being told to stay in place? I doubt the age of the building helped this fire. I always assume that with strict regulation today this kind of thing can't happen. Absolutely tragic.

A serious investigation will follow this no doubt.

This is the advice....



https://grenfellactiongroup.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/kctmo-feeling-the-heat/

https://grenfellactiongroup.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/grenfell-tower-fire/

 

[Bobmunkhouse]

Wow...I really hope people ignored that and run for it...this is horrible..

 

[MooMoo444]

That is absolutely retarded.. surely it's a death sentence to sit in your flat as fires consume the building. Yeah, there might be smoke on the stairwell but I'd rather chance it than wait to die.

 

[Housey]

Terrible incident and prison awaits some people I suspect.

 

[Andrew_McP]

one person quoted as being told to stay in place?.

The current advice, according to our professional block management who are pretty thorough, is that it's nearly always better to trust the emergency services and fireproof design of flats rather than risking the stairwell, which can quickly become a death trap. Not all advice suits all circumstances though... and I don't know what advice would suit this horrific incident. There may not be any. :-/

 

[Zatoichi.uK]

Shocking to hear this morning and even more so seeing the blaze. How awful...

Still amazing in this day that there was no fire alarm, (maybe) no regulations on the cladding, one exit and no external fire escapes. I can't even imagine what people are/have been going through.

 

[ubersonic]

That is absolutely retarded.. surely it's a death sentence to sit in your flat as fires consume the building. Yeah, there might be smoke on the stairwell but I'd rather chance it than wait to die.

Both are an almost certain death sentence (smoke inhalation incapacitates fast), staying put extends that sentence and gives emergency services more time to reach you. Having said that I would probably have rolled the dice with the stairwell too.