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London fire: six people confirmed dead after tower block blaze – latest London fire: six people confirmed dead after tower block blaze – latest
(35 minutes later)
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The Guardian’s graphics team takes a closer look at what happened at Grenfell Tower in this visual guide.
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Julian Redhead, medical director at Imperial College healthcare NHS trust, said the majority of those injured are suffering from smoke inhalation.
He asked members of the public to only attend to the trust’s A&E departments in an emergency.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital has said it is treating four of the 50 people wounded in the fire.
Following the fire in West London this morning, four patients have been treated in A&E at St Thomas’, one of whom has been admitted 1/2
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Angus Law, from the Building Research Establishment Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, says buildings regulations are in place to prevent this kind of fire.
In a statement he said:
Early media reports suggest that this event has similarities with other fires that have occurred recently around the world; it appears that the external cladding has significantly contributed to the spread of fire at Grenfell Tower.
The UK’s regulatory framework for tall residential buildings is intended to prevent the spread of fire between floors and between apartments. If spread of fire does occur, as has happened at Grenfell Tower, the consequences are often catastrophic.
The details and causes of what happened at Grenfell Tower will emerge over coming days, weeks and years. The BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh will provide any support and expertise that we can to this ongoing investigation.
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Jamie Grierson
Paul Littlejohn, friend Justine Bell and dog Rollo, who have been evacuated from Paul's flat in a building next to the tower. pic.twitter.com/JJJOmDOU5f
Paul Littlejohn, 41, a Big Issue seller, lives in a smaller block next to Grenfell Tower and said he witnessed “terrible things”.
He said: “There were people sliding down sheets tied together trying to get down from at least the ninth floor. There were windows being blown out, we saw fridges falling.”
Littlejohn, who has lived next to the block for two years, said he grabbed what he could and left home at about 2am with his friend, Justine Bell, who was staying with him, and his dog Rollo.
The pair loaded Littlejohn’s television, clothing, food and water into a trolley they found and have been wandering the streets since they left.
He said: “It was horrible. Everyone was so confused, so upset, so distraught. Why did this happen?”
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Sarah Marsh
Keith, 42, a former resident at Grenfell Tower said the fire alarms didn’t work properly when he lived there.
I grew up in Grenfell Tower; it was my home until I joined the army at 16. It was only four years ago that my mum sold her flat there and moved in with my sister. She’s now living up in Watford.
When I lived there we’d had a few fires over the year – nothing on a large scale, but the fire alarms did not work properly. If you were in your flat even with the telly off you wouldn’t have heard anything. It was so quiet. After a fire on the sixth floor when we lived there, my mum had asked me to speak to the other leaseholders on her behalf. It was a small fire but afterwards we would try and engage with the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation but nothing changed with them.
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Holly Watt
The minutes of a board meeting held in November last year by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) confirm that during the Grenfell Tower refurbishment, residents were told to “stay put” during a fire.
The minutes also said that “further progress has been made with the installation programme of hard-wired automatic smoke alarms in tenanted dwellings”.
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11.25am BST11.25am BST
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Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
Michael Paramasivan , 37, a builder, lives on the 7th floor of the tower and managed to escape the blaze. He lives with two others in the flat who fled with him. Michael Paramasivan, 37, a builder, lives on the seventh floor of the tower and managed to escape. He lives with two others in the flat who fled with him.
“I’ve lost absolutely everything,” he said. “I’ve lost absolutely everything,” he said. “The most chilling moment was when I suddenly realised it was a fire.
“The most chilling moment was when I suddenly realised it was a fire,” he said. “Between 1am and 1.30am, I was dozing in and out of sleep. I then smelled something. I got up and looked around to see if it was an electrical fault but there was nothing. Then I looked through the spyhole. There was smoke and people running past. We just ran straight out down the stairs.”
“Between 1 and 1.30 I was dozing in and out of sleep. I then smelt something. I got up and looked around to see if it was an electrical fault but there was nothing. Paramasivan said the material on the outside of the building went up in flames rapidly. “It just went up like that,” he said, gesturing wildly. “There’s no fire alarms in the corridors, no sprinklers, nothing. There’s only smoke detectors in the flat and they didn’t go off.”
“Then I looked through the spyhole. There was smoke and people running Updated
past. We just ran straight out down the stairs.” at 11.29am BST
Paramasivan said the material on the outside of the building went up in flames rapidly. “It just went up like that,” he said, gesturing wildly.
“There’s no fire alarms in the corridors, no sprinklers, nothing. There’s only smoke detectors in the flat and they didn’t go off.”
11.23am BST11.23am BST
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Many people from surrounding St Clements church have been told to leave their homes in blocks neighbouring Grenfell Tower. Many people have been told to leave their homes in blocks neighbouring Grenfell Tower.
Alice, who lives in Barandon Walk, watched the fire as it spread quickly up the highrise after starting at about 1.30am. Alice, who lives in Barandon Walk, watched the fire as it spread quickly up the highrise. She said she saw one person jump from the building.
She said she had seen one person jump from the building. “It started on a corner, but it was one side near the corner, and then it just went up,” she said. “After a few hours, maybe 3am, that’s when people told us to get out. They kind of started slowly blocking the roads.”
“It started on a corner, but it was one side near the corner, and then it just went up,” she said. Alice said the fire spread at an unbelievable speed. “Things were just falling off, the debris, it was shocking how fast it spread. I think it was new material – it’s just been renovated. There’s been fires there before and that’s never happened.”
“After a few hours, maybe 3am, that’s when people told us to get out. They kind of started slowly blocking the roads.” Updated
Alice said the fire spread at an “unbelievable” speed. “Things were just falling off, the debris, it was shocking how fast it spread. I think it was new material - it’s just been renovated. There’s been fires there before and that’s never happened.” at 11.27am BST
11.21am BST11.21am BST
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Sarah MarshSarah Marsh
At least 50 people injured in the blaze have been taken to five hospitals.At least 50 people injured in the blaze have been taken to five hospitals.
In a statement NHS England said:In a statement NHS England said:
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic incident at the Grenfell Tower block in Kensington. Our priority is to continue to work closely with the NHS services involved. We have tried and tested measures in place to manage this but we would also encourage Londoners to use NHS services wisely and seek advice from NHS 111 in the first instance.Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic incident at the Grenfell Tower block in Kensington. Our priority is to continue to work closely with the NHS services involved. We have tried and tested measures in place to manage this but we would also encourage Londoners to use NHS services wisely and seek advice from NHS 111 in the first instance.
It confirmed that the five receiving hospitals are St Mary’s, Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Free, St Thomas’ and King’s College hospital.It confirmed that the five receiving hospitals are St Mary’s, Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Free, St Thomas’ and King’s College hospital.
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Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, has urged members of the public to donate clothes, food, blankets and toiletries to St Clement’s church, which is offering shelter to people from Grenfell Tower.Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, has urged members of the public to donate clothes, food, blankets and toiletries to St Clement’s church, which is offering shelter to people from Grenfell Tower.
We weep & pray for those in West London. Let us all support those affected by donating necessaries to St Clements Church. #GrenfellTowerWe weep & pray for those in West London. Let us all support those affected by donating necessaries to St Clements Church. #GrenfellTower
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at 11.25am BSTat 11.25am BST
11.18am BST11.18am BST
11:1811:18
Caroline BannockCaroline Bannock
Alisha, 25, who lives five minutes away from Grenfell Tower, was out late with her brother to get something to eat, because of Ramadan, when they saw the fire.Alisha, 25, who lives five minutes away from Grenfell Tower, was out late with her brother to get something to eat, because of Ramadan, when they saw the fire.
She said:She said:
I was there from 1.45am, the fire was getting wild and out of control. There were 50 people there, families that were screaming, especially one family that I was comforting as she had her aunty and her kids on the 23rd floor. The police was standing there telling us to move back and had no information.I was there from 1.45am, the fire was getting wild and out of control. There were 50 people there, families that were screaming, especially one family that I was comforting as she had her aunty and her kids on the 23rd floor. The police was standing there telling us to move back and had no information.
The fire trucks and ambulances didn’t come till about 2.15am or 2.30am and we only saw three, though there could have been some around the other side. A car had been left in the middle of the road and nobody knew who the driver was, so the fire engines and ambulances couldn’t get through. People were telling us that there was no fire alarm, people said they were knocking on doors shouting ‘Get out of the house, get out out of the house.’The fire trucks and ambulances didn’t come till about 2.15am or 2.30am and we only saw three, though there could have been some around the other side. A car had been left in the middle of the road and nobody knew who the driver was, so the fire engines and ambulances couldn’t get through. People were telling us that there was no fire alarm, people said they were knocking on doors shouting ‘Get out of the house, get out out of the house.’
I was at the front watching debris falling, there were loud explosions. I felt useless, I couldn’t do anything, just watching a building burn and hear people screaming. We tried to comfort people who were crying for their families, we were just telling them it would be all right.I was at the front watching debris falling, there were loud explosions. I felt useless, I couldn’t do anything, just watching a building burn and hear people screaming. We tried to comfort people who were crying for their families, we were just telling them it would be all right.
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11.16am BST11.16am BST
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Six people are confirmed to have diedSix people are confirmed to have died
The Met has confirmed that six people were killed – and the number is expected to rise.The Met has confirmed that six people were killed – and the number is expected to rise.
Commander Stuart Cundy said: “Our thoughts are with everyone involved in this truly shocking fire at Grenfell Tower.Commander Stuart Cundy said: “Our thoughts are with everyone involved in this truly shocking fire at Grenfell Tower.
“I can confirm six fatalities at this time, but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days. Many others are receiving medical care.”“I can confirm six fatalities at this time, but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days. Many others are receiving medical care.”
UPDATE: Six fatalities following the fire in #NorthKensington https://t.co/0kmxhYfOly pic.twitter.com/3Fl9tMzVw7UPDATE: Six fatalities following the fire in #NorthKensington https://t.co/0kmxhYfOly pic.twitter.com/3Fl9tMzVw7
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at 11.21am BSTat 11.21am BST
11.14am BST11.14am BST
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At Latymer Christian Centre, the team running another makeshift rescue centre say they have been overwhelmed with donations of food, water and clothes. They are now turning people away, asking instead for cash donations.At Latymer Christian Centre, the team running another makeshift rescue centre say they have been overwhelmed with donations of food, water and clothes. They are now turning people away, asking instead for cash donations.
“What we want is £500,000 to give these people a roof,” said Tim Burke, a community arts organiser in North Kensington who woke up to news of the fire and headed straight out to help.“What we want is £500,000 to give these people a roof,” said Tim Burke, a community arts organiser in North Kensington who woke up to news of the fire and headed straight out to help.
“There are people there who’ve woken up with their savings and life over.” A fundraising page has been set up. “When all this is finished people need a place to stay,” said Danny Donaldson, wearing a smoke mask, one of several donated by the New Lines tool shop.“There are people there who’ve woken up with their savings and life over.” A fundraising page has been set up. “When all this is finished people need a place to stay,” said Danny Donaldson, wearing a smoke mask, one of several donated by the New Lines tool shop.
At the Christian centre, teams of volunteer doctors and trauma nurses are working with about 50 people. They are asking people who are arriving with donations to head to the Maxilla Club.At the Christian centre, teams of volunteer doctors and trauma nurses are working with about 50 people. They are asking people who are arriving with donations to head to the Maxilla Club.
“We’re coordinating with the other centres to try and find out what they need but there’s no one on the ground from a professional emergency response level,” he said.“We’re coordinating with the other centres to try and find out what they need but there’s no one on the ground from a professional emergency response level,” he said.
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at 11.22am BSTat 11.22am BST
11.12am BST11.12am BST
11:1211:12
Alan TravisAlan Travis
There are almost 7,000 fewer firefighters in England than five years ago, leading to longer response times and a 25% fall in the number of fire prevention visits, according to the latest Home Office figures published last month.There are almost 7,000 fewer firefighters in England than five years ago, leading to longer response times and a 25% fall in the number of fire prevention visits, according to the latest Home Office figures published last month.
The reduction in the number of firefighters and staff employed by the fire rescue services to 42,300 has been more than matched by a long-term fall in fire deaths from more than 750 a year in the early 1980s to 264 in 2014-15.The reduction in the number of firefighters and staff employed by the fire rescue services to 42,300 has been more than matched by a long-term fall in fire deaths from more than 750 a year in the early 1980s to 264 in 2014-15.
However, the number of fire-related deaths rose to 303 last year – a 15% increase – bringing the downward trend to an end.However, the number of fire-related deaths rose to 303 last year – a 15% increase – bringing the downward trend to an end.
The number of uniformed firefighters stood at 34,400 in 2015-16 compared with 41,202 in 2010-11 – a fall of 6,802.The number of uniformed firefighters stood at 34,400 in 2015-16 compared with 41,202 in 2010-11 – a fall of 6,802.
The Home Office figures show that the fire service carried out 581,000 home fire risk checks in 2015-16 - 25% less than five years earlier. The 63,000 fire safety audits of non-domestic premises last year, also down 25% compared with five years ago.The Home Office figures show that the fire service carried out 581,000 home fire risk checks in 2015-16 - 25% less than five years earlier. The 63,000 fire safety audits of non-domestic premises last year, also down 25% compared with five years ago.
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at 11.15am BSTat 11.15am BST
11.09am BST11.09am BST
11:0911:09
Haroon SiddiqueHaroon Siddique
Conservative MP Mike Penning, a former firefighter and fire minister, told BBC News the UK had never seen a fire like this before.Conservative MP Mike Penning, a former firefighter and fire minister, told BBC News the UK had never seen a fire like this before.
He also said questions needed to be asked about the safety requirements, including in relation to the cladding which he described as “inert”.He also said questions needed to be asked about the safety requirements, including in relation to the cladding which he described as “inert”.
He said: “The cladding was clearly spreading the fire … We need to find out what went on.”He said: “The cladding was clearly spreading the fire … We need to find out what went on.”
Harley Curtain Wall, the firm that provided the cladding for Grenfell went bust after the refurbishment.Harley Curtain Wall, the firm that provided the cladding for Grenfell went bust after the refurbishment.
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at 11.16am BSTat 11.16am BST
11.05am BST11.05am BST
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The tower is not in danger of collapse, according to an update from the London fire brigade.The tower is not in danger of collapse, according to an update from the London fire brigade.
Our specialist urban search and rescue crews and a structural engineer have checked the building and said that it is not in danger of collapsing and that it is safe for our crews to be in there.Our specialist urban search and rescue crews and a structural engineer have checked the building and said that it is not in danger of collapsing and that it is safe for our crews to be in there.
Fire crews are still in the building. Some have had to use riot shields to protect themselves from falling debris.Fire crews are still in the building. Some have had to use riot shields to protect themselves from falling debris.
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at 11.09am BSTat 11.09am BST