Prayers for the dead and injured. Amazing footage online. What a horrible and preventable tragedy... Hearing there was no integrated fire alarm system. Built in 1974(?), there is no excuse for not having a life saving fire detection system... Recall a news report about a fire in Vegas (?), another at some tropical city , where the exterior cladding catches fire, and really exacerbates it. The building owner will be sued into dust. Maybe Slip could add commentary.
1980 MGM Grand fire in 1980 killed 86. Any exterior cladding on the hotel was not the problem. It was the materials inside that burned and released the smoke and toxic fumes that killed the majority of the victims. Defective smoke dampers within the MGM allowed the smoke to flow to all parts of the building.
It's been a sad day indeed. 70+ in hospital and possibly 100's of bodies still inside. Usually around 600 residents I believe. Don't know yet how many got out, but the firefighters couldn't get beyond the 12th floor. Residents have been calling for action for years. The cladding didn't have a the fire break installed and that's probably why it didn't remain contained around the 2nd floor which was started by a faulty fridge or freezer. Had people not been celebrating Ramadan and happened to be up late, many more would have perished. They were able to knock on peoples doors to alert them, some said the alarm didn't go off, while others said you couldn't hear it until you were in the corridor. Rumoured there hasn't been a safety check in 4 years. Residents were told to stay in their flats. It was discussed in Parliament a year or so ago that safety standards had to be improved in rental accomodation, but the legislation was voted down, especially by the MP's who were known to rent out property. One MP claiming installing sprinkler systems etc. would put housebuilders off due to the costs involved. Cladding only went on to enhance the area a year ago, as the posh folk wanted the block demolished. We will just have to let the authorities conduct their investigation and see what is revealed during the inquest. And the old, tired phrase of 'lessons will be learned' is being said as usual. Always too little, too late. On a lighter note, it was heartening to see London rally once again. Churches & community centers completely over run with donations, to the point they have had to refuse anymore. I feel heart sorry for the guy whose flat the fire originated in and the emergency services.
That is standard practice, although not uniform policy, in high-rises here in the States. As always, it is conditional/situational, and there are advantages and disadvantages both to to staying put and everyone evacuating.
Absolutely horrifying. The problem seems to have been the insulating cladding recently added to the outside. Can't help wondering if it's the same stuff added to the outside of every council house in this area over the last year or so. It's this guy I really feel for; not his fault, but imagine how he feels- London fire: Man in flat where fire started packed clothes | Daily Mail Online
How is it that such a progressive country would allow a residential high rise apt building to not have a functioning fire suppression system...let alone a notification system that should have been programmed to dial out on alarm. Canada is only 150 years old, but I think our fire regulations are top drawer. I would bet this tragedy will become a precedent, used as an example for training/law. Took some courses. Tyco (if recalling), was one of the first NA companies to offer fire suppression...recall they used to offer dynamite as an extreme form of suppression. They would explode a water tower. Interesting stuff. Today's systems are really complex and it is almost it's own language when programming. Maybe Slip doesn't know about fire systems, therefore no comment. He's prolly busy anyway.
Read where a tenant got caught in the elevator trying to escape. If folks don't know- do not use the elevator in a fire emergency. If that building had a proper system, the fire panel would not have allowed the elevator to function after a fire alarm...there should have been fire doors that would release on alarm, slowing the spread of fire. Should have been strobe and fire lights indicating fire exits. Etc etc.
It is terrible and the truth will out meanwhile thoughts go to all those involved. It seems almost impossible to make a tragedy such as this worse but the way the scum radical elements who have no place in society have hijacked these deaths and grief to promote themselves is almost unbelievable by even their immoral standards. What is needed is a calm and meaningful look at the cause and concerted efforts to eradicate the possibility of such an incident again. This is not an issue for Parliament where it can be voted on but needs addressing by professionals in fire and health and safety where cost and personal interest will play no part.
Heard today there are (?) 600 buildings in London with the same cladding. Heard talk of taking non occupied residences to house the people displaced. No. It is the government's responsibility to ensure fire codes are adhered to. ..why make some joe pay for government incompetence.
No, think it's 600 buildings across England and Wales. There don't appear to be any in Scotland. Theresa May: 600 buildings 'have Grenfell Tower cladding' | Daily Mail Online
Thanks MrH...keep on ticking like the reliable time piece you have always been. Looks like there is a big business opportunity in recladding. Let's see which family members get the contracts. There will also be a boom in fire detection and suppression. Read where bldg owner (?) said "tenants didn't want the disruption (of a fire system install). I dunno. Is London so hectic that tenants would sacrifice safety over parking/noise? What has our 30 yr old rogue who lives with his granny have to say
I would have said it was the council and the Development Authority's responsibility to ensure fire codes...not the government. One would have to say England, especially London should be experts in fire...they've had a few doozies in their time.
Grenfell Tower is about 2 miles from where I live. I was down that way this morning so walked by. I took this picture from the pavement, with my pocket camera. Everyone has had their say about this and the story has a long way to go yet. But this is truly the most awful sight I've ever seen in London. It is heartbreaking to see the 'missing' notices taped to the walls nearby . I wouldn't even want to begin to try to imagine being trapped in there.
