Industry News

Official warnings about fire safety at Grenfell Tower were issued one year before the tragic fire, according to a major report from ITV News.

A fire deficiency notice from the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), served in November 2016, and a separate independent Fire Risk Assessment both identified a number of failures at Grenfell, ITV News reported.

Warnings from the independent Fire Risk Assessment were issued in June 2016, one year before the fire, and included deadlines for action.

In October, the fire risk assessor wrote to the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation​ (KCTMO) on why action still had not been taken on more than 20 issues he had identified.

The two fire safety audits reportedly found problems with damaged or poorly fitted doors and fire doors that did not self-close.

They raised questions about how the refurbishment had affected the operation of the building’s smoke venting system and the firefighter’s lift controls.

Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy has said people were “culpable” for the Grenfell Tower fire.

He told the broadcaster: “There was clear negligence. That negligence has led to manslaughter and the loss of lives.

“People are culpable. This evidence is probably in front of the inquiry, but it is hugely important that the police act on this gross negligence that we’re hearing about today.”

The KCTMO ceased to exist following the fire. The owner of Grenfell Tower, Kensington and Chelsea council said in a statement: “This will be a matter for the public inquiry, and to comment further could risk prejudicing the ongoing police investigation.

“We do not want to do or say anything that could obstruct the course of justice, because justice is what our residents want the most.

“Our first thoughts and our last thoughts will always be with those that lost their lives in the Grenfell Tragedy. We have been clear that we want the whole unvarnished truth and we will do all we can to assist, no matter what the consequences are for the council.”

Original sources

ITV

Evening Standard

Tributes were paid to the 72 people who lost their lives at the opening of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire last June.

The first stage of the inquiry featured touching tributes by family and friends to the victims, given in person and via video, building up a portrait of those who lost their lives.

This first stage is expected to last nine days.

The probe is believed to have the largest number of core participants to date, with more than 500 survivors, bereaved families and friends, and members of the North Kensington community participating.

After the tributes the inquiry will then move on to Holborn bars, in the legal heart of London, and begin examining the night of the fire itself and the response of emergency services.

The second stage, which may not begin until next year, will then look at the lead-up to the fire, including decisions made over the refurbishment by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which has been widely blamed for the spreading of the blaze.

Last week it was announced that the inquiry would be widened to include people with the skills to examine the cultural and community reasons behind the fire, following pressure from survivors and families of victims.

You can view the schedule of the inquiry here.

Original source

The Guardian

A care home in Hastings has been handed a huge £250k fine for a host of fire safety offences.

St Michael’s Hospice Hastings and Rother was prosecuted in relation to offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The company was also ordered to pay costs.

The hospice pleaded guilty to two breaches in fire safety law which relate to the hospice’s overall failure to take general fire precautions to ensure the safety of its employees, residents and visitors.

In sentencing Judge Henson described the failures in fire safety as obvious and avoidable.

She went onto describe how the fire ruthlessly exposed the failures, such as locked doors, lack of evacuation training and equipment, and holes in the ceiling which allowed smoke to spread throughout the building.

She added that a mock evacuation and basic training would have helped identify some of these deficiencies, and it shouldn’t have taken a fire to highlight these issues.

The Judge emphasised that hospice care must extend to keeping patients safe from fire risk and the charitable status of the Hospice cannot dilute the requirements for fire safety.

The burden of compliance lies with the Hospice, which it should have been aware of since the Fire Safety Order has been around for over a decade and therefore it cannot pass responsibility to others.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews said: “Fire safety in hospices, care homes or any similar property that provide rest, care or accommodation for vulnerable people is critical.

“The law is there to protect the residents and staff from the effects of fires and in this case the fire safety provision fell well below the standard expected in such a property where residents would otherwise expect to be safe.

“We now hope this serves as a reminder to people responsible for the housing and care of vulnerable people of the importance of fire safety measures in their buildings.

“Tragically, three people did lose their lives in the following days and our thoughts remain with their families and others affected by the fire.”

Original source

East Sussex Fire and Rescue