London Fire Brigade accepts all recommendations from Grenfell Inquiry

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has fully accepted the recommendations directed at it and the fire and rescue services from the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The Brigade has set out a detailed response to each of these recommendations, which were developed in collaboration with community groups and key stakeholders.

LFB’s statement highlighted that work is already underway to address these recommendations, building on the policies, training, and equipment improvements introduced after the Phase 1 report.

The Inquiry made a total of 58 recommendations in Phase 2, 13 of which were specifically related to the Brigade.

These include recommendations for LFB, HMICFRS, the Government, and other national fire safety organisations.

Implementing operational changes

One of the recommendations made by the Inquiry for LFB involves improving systems to collect, review, and implement lessons from previous incidents and investigations.

LFB has committed to enhancing its learning processes and sharing best practices across its services.

The Brigade has already made significant progress in improving operational learning following the Grenfell Tower fire, ensuring that critical information is disseminated more rapidly to staff.

LFB will also undertake further reviews of its operational practices to ensure that national best practices are taken into account.

Improving control room and incident command

The Phase 2 report recommended that HMICFRS conduct further inspections of LFB’s control room, incident command training, and operational planning.

This is to ensure that improvements introduced since 2017 have been sustained.

LFB welcomed this recommendation, stating that it values the scrutiny provided by the HMICFRS and is eager to demonstrate its progress.

The Brigade has made several advancements in these areas, including the integration of control room operations with incident command training and high-rise exercises.

LFB has introduced new technology and training initiatives aimed at improving decision-making in emergency situations.

These measures were successfully demonstrated during incidents like the Dagenham Spectrum Building fire in 2024.

Advances in radio communications and water supply

The Inquiry made specific recommendations for all fire and rescue services regarding radio communications and water management at incidents.

LFB has responded by introducing new intrinsically safe fireground radios with enhanced communication capabilities, a direct outcome of the Phase 1 recommendations.

In addition, LFB has worked closely with water utility companies to improve water supplies during incidents, as advised in the Phase 2 report.

The Brigade has also started discussions with the British Standards Institution to improve standards related to fire services’ water usage.

Plans for a national College of Fire and Rescue

The Brigade expressed support for the creation of a national College of Fire and Rescue to establish standards across the sector.

LFB said it is keen to play a significant role in developing this initiative, working with the Government, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and other stakeholders.

LFB also backed the recommendation for the NFCC to review how firefighters carry out instructions during live incidents and has offered its assistance to help with this review, given its experience in handling high-risk emergencies.

London Fire Brigade responds to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report recommendations: Summary

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has accepted all recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.

LFB has committed to implementing changes based on these recommendations, which cover a range of areas including operational learning, control room procedures, radio communications, and water supply management.

LFB is collaborating with community groups, key stakeholders, and national fire safety bodies to ensure the effective delivery of these improvements.

The Brigade has already made significant progress following the Phase 1 report and plans to continue enhancing its policies, training, and equipment.

Additionally, LFB supports the creation of a national College of Fire and Rescue to standardise training across the country.