Review of stay put guidance at Grenfell

London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, acknowledged that residents of Grenfell Tower were told to “stay put for too long” during the devastating fire.

The Fire Brigades Union responded by supporting a review of the “stay put” policy but highlighted deeper underlying issues.

The union stated that while reviewing such policies is important, the fire at Grenfell was the result of much more profound failings, specifically deregulation and institutional negligence.

The union emphasised that this tragedy could have been avoided had warnings about fire safety been taken seriously over the years.

Institutional failings in fire safety policies

The Fire Brigades Union strongly criticised the lack of adequate preparation, planning, and training for firefighters at Grenfell.

General secretary Matt Wrack said that frontline firefighters faced “impossible conditions” during the incident.

He pointed to years of warnings that had gone unheeded, including concerns raised as early as 2007 following a fatal fire in Harrow Court.

Wrack noted that these institutional failings are not the fault of frontline workers but of high-level management and policy makers who failed to act on critical information.

Warnings about cladding fires ignored

The union also pointed out the numerous warnings issued regarding the dangers of flammable cladding.

Matt Wrack specifically mentioned previous fires at Garnock Court in 1999 and Lakanal House in 2009, both of which involved fatalities.

The Fire Brigades Union had raised concerns about cladding as far back as these incidents, but these warnings were not addressed.

Wrack labelled the lack of action as a “national scandal” and called for accountability from those responsible for ignoring these safety warnings.

He stressed that the situation continues to affect hundreds of thousands of people living in buildings with flammable cladding across the UK.

Ongoing fire safety concerns and the need for change

The Fire Brigades Union continues to push for improvements in fire safety regulations, including the need for proper evacuation guidance in high-rise buildings.

Wrack highlighted that the government has yet to produce clear guidelines for evacuating high-rise buildings during a fire, despite having had ample time to do so since the Grenfell disaster.

The union is determined to fight for justice for the victims of Grenfell and ensure that similar tragedies do not happen again.

Wrack reaffirmed that the Fire Brigades Union will continue to advocate for fire safety improvements until everyone in the UK has a “safe and decent home”.

Fire Brigades Union criticises deregulation and failings at Grenfell Tower fire: Summary

The Fire Brigades Union has condemned the Grenfell Tower fire as a result of deregulation and institutional failings.

While acknowledging the need to review “stay put” guidance, the union emphasised that the fire was caused by years of ignored warnings regarding fire safety, particularly in relation to flammable cladding.

The union’s general secretary, Matt Wrack, stated that firefighters faced “impossible conditions” at Grenfell due to a lack of training and preparation.

The Fire Brigades Union also criticised the government for not providing proper evacuation guidance for high-rise fires.

The union continues to advocate for fire safety improvements and justice for Grenfell victims.