Grenfell Tower Block Fire - What I Know So Far.

Emergency services were called to reports of a fire in a 24-storey block of flats in North Kensington, London, at 12:54am on Wednesday, 14th June 2017.

Grenfell Tower Block engulfed in flames

The Grenfell Tower Block was left engulfed in flames which spread very quickly affecting both the inside and outside of the block. The fire is said to have started in one of the flats due to a fridge exploding, but this is yet to be confirmed - although some media outlets are running with this.i.e The Sun Newspaper.

The TMO (Tenancy Management Organisation) block had recently undergone a 1.4M refurbishment which is said to have included the outside of the block being covered in cladding to make it more appealing to the eye although the TMO have said it was also "for insulation".

Grenfell Tower is within eyeshot of the Shepherd's Bush Westfield's shopping centre and has many newly-built buildings surrounding it, so the cladding was definitely a way for the block to "fit in".

It has been confirmed by news outlets that the council chose to use the cheaper cladding on this block, which happened to be the more flammable one.

The price difference in the panels is so small but the effect this decision had is so huge. 

Grenfell Tower after fire

Witnesses have told news stations that the fire spread from the 4th to the 18th floor in eight minutes and the entire block was in flames within 40 minutes.

Residents had complained many times to the TMO regarding the block and how unsafe they felt. A recent questionnaire showed that 90% of residents were not happy with the safety precautions within the block.

Grenfell Tower consisted of one entrance, one exit, one stairwell for over 120 flats, that's at least over 600 residents and no sprinklers. How can people really be made to live like this?

London is one of the richest cities in the world, there should not be people living in these kinds of buildings.

At the time of the incident when residents called the emergency service they were told to stay inside their flats and not to go outside, there was also a sign within the block advising them "that if the fire is not in their flat, then they should stay put."

Grenfell Tower "Stay Put" sign

Many videos have been seen on social media showing residents trying to get out of the block and the amount of smoke inside the block being so overwhelming that residents could not see and found themselves tripping over bodies or staying in their flats shouting for help from outside. Residents were seen jumping from windows which instantly reminded me of the tragedy of 9/11.

Many young children and elderly people lived in Grenfell Tower. These vulnerable people were made to live in such an unsafe block - 24 floors, one staircase and one entrance which was also the exit. Residents told reporters that the lift were always breaking down. "So how could a 85-year old be expected to walk up and down these stairs on a daily basis?" "Ridiculous."

At this moment the police have confirmed that 30 people have died but the number is likely to go up. Although many people including myself know that the death count is a lot more. 

Lily Allen recently spoke up and asked, "why are the media trying to micro-manage the public?"

Why are the media not telling us the whole truth?

Considering how many people lived in that block, there should be a lot more confirmed deaths. 

"Tell us the truth!!!"

There are a large number of individuals still missing. The block has not been fully searched so a number of bodies will still need to be recovered and hopefully these can be identified.

Following this incident I have seen many people from in and outside of the area of Kensington come together. A sense of unity has been seen amongst the community but it has also shown how much the government.i.e Conservative party are not about the people of the UK and especially Londoners.

The day after the fire, the UK's interim Prime Minister, Theresa May, visited the firemen and women who responded to the Grenfell Tower fire, rather than visiting the victims and residents affected by this incident. I appreciate the work the fire service does but at the end of the day, they chose this job. 

"The purpose of being a fire fighter is to fight fires not to save cats in trees."

Theresa May showing great interest...

Grenfell Tower was a block which housed a large amount of immigrants and people from ethnic minorities from different religious sects.

People Theresa May has no similarity to. People the Conservative Party have no connection with.

Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn embraces a Grenfell Tower resident.

Whilst the Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn and the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, who had to endure a large amount of frustration directed at him from the crowd, have both come out and spoken with the residents in the area and visited volunteer stations.

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan confronted by an angry resident

After facing a huge backlash from many people as well as within her party for not visiting the residents and the victims, Theresa May decided to give a private" token" visit to some of the victims who are currently in hospital.

This is a little too late for many of the residents and the public.

Theresa May has said that a public inquiry will be made into how this fire started but the public have asked for an inquest. 

The public want the investigation into this fire to be fair and not about Theresa May and the Conservatives saving their own skins and trying to cover their backs.

Building regulations had not been reviewed and carried out on blocks including Grenfell Tower. 

Reviews had been put in place following the block fire in Lakanal House, South-East London. Which saw 6 people die. Three adults and three children.

Social housing is supposed to help people not put their lives in danger.

Please do not let these people's deaths be in vain. 

The government. The councils. They all need to do more to make sure that the residents in London and the UK are living in safe accommodations with emergency plans put in place.