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London fire: six dead, 20 in critical care after tower block blaze – latest updates London fire: six dead, 20 in critical care after tower block blaze – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
3.28pm BST
15:28
Speaker John Bercow has offered condolences on behalf of MPs to the victims of the “unimaginable and horrific disaster”.
MPs would normally be expected to have a chance to ask questions to a minister on such disasters in the chamber but Bercow said it was not possible in this instance, as parliament has yet to officially convene following the general election.
A meeting with a minister is expected to take place in the Palace of Westminster to enable questions from MPs, said Bercow.
I’m sure on behalf of each and every one of you in this chamber to offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this unimaginable and horrific disaster.
I want also, I’m sure with your concurrence, to offer the warmest and most effusive thanks to our magnificent emergency services for coping the best they can in this horrendous situation.
3.17pm BST
15:17
Jamie Grierson
The smoke plume has reduced slightly now and there are no signs of flames on the west face of the tower, which is now a blackened wreck. pic.twitter.com/uhXarcadMj
Tensions are running high along the edge of the cordon as temperatures soar and people become increasingly tired and hungry.
Outside Latymer community church, a clash between a group of young men and a photographer broke out.
The men appeared to be concerned that the photographer had them on video on his phone and were demanding that he delete the footage.
The men pursued the photographer up Bramley Road where he requested police assistance; he deleted the images and footage in their presence.
The men eventually turned around and left shouting expletives at the photographer and the police. A group of volunteers handing out water and food outside the centre were shouting about the lack of support: “Where’s our MP? Where’s the council? No one understands.”
Updated
at 3.31pm BST
3.16pm BST
15:16
Josh Halliday
More on Stay Put fire notices:
Mike Tobin, the technical director of Security and Fire Experts Ltd in Bury, Greater Manchester, said: “As a rule, the Stay Put policy works but I think this is such a tragic incident there’s so many potential issues that make it a one-off”
Tobin said the ‘Stay put’ policy was the long and short of advice to residents in tower blocks and that it was for someone “far higher than my pay grade” to decide whether it should be reviewed.
He described the inferno as a game-changer for the fire safety industry. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “This will change our industry whether we like it or not. There’s too many deaths for it to go without something coming out of it – they might look at what Scotland is doing, putting sprinklers in all new communal buildings but that would not have stopped this fire.”
A senior firefighter in the north-west of England, who did not want to be named, said he had never seen anything like in his 32 years in the fire service. He said it was so “out of the ordinary and as yet not understood”. “Conventional wisdom may not fit this scenario,” he said.
3.13pm BST
15:13
Damien Gayle
Niles Hailstones, a local community activist, was standing with other locals around the Verity Close estate, in the shadow of the burning tower.
He said that he believed negligence paid a part in the fire that consumed Grenfell Tower. The tragedy of the night’s events exposed the fault lines of class and privilege that divide the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, he said.
Grenfell Tower had long been a symbol of the resistance to the borough’s gentrification, Hailstones said. “To see it in that condition is symbolic of the communities struggles,” he said.
Hailstones highlighted the work of Ed Daffern, whose Grenfell Action Group blog has warned several times of the fire risk to the block, adding:
“It’s at the very least negligence and some serious questions have to be asked about how this happened.
“Some serious questions need to be asked of the local authorities as to how this block could have been in this condition that it could go up in flames like that in 2017.
“The way I look at it is if the town hall was on fire water would be falling from the sky, but in north Kensington lives are expendable. Once again, like Michael Jackson said, all I want to say is that they don’t really care about us.”
Daniel Renwick, 29, a youth worker at the nearby Harrow Club, said:
“The Grenfell Action Group are probably the strongest advocates for reform in this borough. Grenfell are tireless in trying to bring these issues to light and they said the only thing that would give this issue some recognition is a disaster like this.
“It’s sick, because it exposes just how fucking disgraceful this council is. People who don’t understand why the Tories got kicked out of this place [in last week’s election], this is why. The push back can’t be stopped now because how are people supposed to feel about this? It’s the shock doctrine, that’s what this is.”
3.10pm BST
15:10
Corbyn says lessons should be learned
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said lessons have to be learned from the fire.
In a pooled interview he said the Grenfell Tower fire was “nightmare”. He said the Lakanal House fire, in Camberwell south London, in which three women and three children died in July 2009, showed the need for sprinklers and equipment to fight fires in high rise buildings.
Corbyn said:
Harriet Harman the MP who represented those people that suffered in the fire in 2009 has made the point that if you cut local authority expenditure then the price is paid somewhere.
Today is the day to support the emergency services and residents ... Tomorrow is the time to ask all those question. But today let’s concentrate on dealing with the consequences of this fire and try and bring comfort and safety and safe life wherever possible it can be saved.
The areas one has to look at, are the preventive measures that were available, or not available, in the tower; the facilities available to get in and out of it in an emergency ... and the numbers of people available to the fire service, paramedics and emergency services to deal with a crisis like this. We have to make sure we are properly resourced to deal with this kind of crisis. Today let’s concentrate on saving lives.
A review took place after the fire in Camberwell, and the government has that review. We need to ask questions about what facilities and resources have been given to every local authority that has tower block in their area and, frankly most do. We need people to be safe living in high rise buildings.
Obviously ministers who received those reports must be questions, but today every focus must be on saving and protecting life.
Updated
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14:4814:48
Fire safeguards in Grenfell were temporarily removed during the refurbishment, according to the trade journal Inside Housing.Fire safeguards in Grenfell were temporarily removed during the refurbishment, according to the trade journal Inside Housing.
Safeguards intended to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor were temporarily removed from Grenfell Tower during a refurbishment, according to documents from the planning application.Safeguards intended to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor were temporarily removed from Grenfell Tower during a refurbishment, according to documents from the planning application.
The 2016 refurbishment involved replacing heating pipes which require removing ‘fire stopping’ systems, it said. There plan was to replace these, but it is unclear whether this took place. The contractors insisted that the refurbishment complied with fire and health and safety rules. The 2016 refurbishment involved replacing heating pipes which require removing ‘fire stopping’ systems, it said. Their plan was to replace these, but it is unclear whether this took place. The contractors insisted that the refurbishment complied with fire and health and safety rules.
New from @lukewbarratt: Refurb of #GrenfellTower involved temporary removal of fire protections between floors https://t.co/nxmHOxymBt pic.twitter.com/P5Qv886RUYNew from @lukewbarratt: Refurb of #GrenfellTower involved temporary removal of fire protections between floors https://t.co/nxmHOxymBt pic.twitter.com/P5Qv886RUY
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.51pm BST at 2.58pm BST
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14:3514:35
A man seen waving from one of the upper floors at about 7am is believed to have been rescued.A man seen waving from one of the upper floors at about 7am is believed to have been rescued.
ITV showed live footage of the man on Good Morning Britain, hours after the fire broke out. It later reported that he had been rescued.ITV showed live footage of the man on Good Morning Britain, hours after the fire broke out. It later reported that he had been rescued.
UpdatedUpdated
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14:2614:26
Two workers with the charity Muslim Aid were delivering donations collected from members of the Al-Manaar mosque in Acklam Road.Two workers with the charity Muslim Aid were delivering donations collected from members of the Al-Manaar mosque in Acklam Road.
“We’re also trying to arrange short-term housing and financial assistance,” said Ahmad Teladia. “We’ve got too much stuff, now the best thing for people to give is money.”“We’re also trying to arrange short-term housing and financial assistance,” said Ahmad Teladia. “We’ve got too much stuff, now the best thing for people to give is money.”
His colleague Nosheena Javaid said there were a lot of Muslim residents of Grenfell Tower. “Muslims are fasting because of Ramadan, but we are trying to reassure people from Grenfell Tower that it’s okay for them not to fast in the circumstances, they will get exemptions from their imam.His colleague Nosheena Javaid said there were a lot of Muslim residents of Grenfell Tower. “Muslims are fasting because of Ramadan, but we are trying to reassure people from Grenfell Tower that it’s okay for them not to fast in the circumstances, they will get exemptions from their imam.
“We may do iftar [the meal that breaks the fast] on the streets this evening for those have lost or can’t get to their homes,” she added.“We may do iftar [the meal that breaks the fast] on the streets this evening for those have lost or can’t get to their homes,” she added.
@Muslim_Aid update from the #GrenfellFire site #response #humanity #londonfire #latimer pic.twitter.com/uTPYTHs8HV@Muslim_Aid update from the #GrenfellFire site #response #humanity #londonfire #latimer pic.twitter.com/uTPYTHs8HV
UpdatedUpdated
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14:2114:21
Manchester-based housing association Irwell Valley has written to its tenants to try to reassure them in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.Manchester-based housing association Irwell Valley has written to its tenants to try to reassure them in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.
It points out that its tower blocks are compliant with fire safety legislation but don’t have firm alarm systems. It will be arranging meetings for residents concerned about safety.It points out that its tower blocks are compliant with fire safety legislation but don’t have firm alarm systems. It will be arranging meetings for residents concerned about safety.
Important reassurances from @IrwellValley concerning fire safety at the Haughton Green tower blocks. pic.twitter.com/W4HjmHrNWGImportant reassurances from @IrwellValley concerning fire safety at the Haughton Green tower blocks. pic.twitter.com/W4HjmHrNWG
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.25pm BSTat 2.25pm BST
2.13pm BST2.13pm BST
14:1314:13
Josh HallidayJosh Halliday
The “stay put” policy (see earlier) has been a cornerstone of fire safety advice for housing blocks such as Grenfell Tower since the 1950s.The “stay put” policy (see earlier) has been a cornerstone of fire safety advice for housing blocks such as Grenfell Tower since the 1950s.
The official guidance states that residents should only evacuate if their own flat is on fire – everyone else, generally, is thought safe to remain.The official guidance states that residents should only evacuate if their own flat is on fire – everyone else, generally, is thought safe to remain.
But that policy is expected to come under intense scrutiny after what fire industry experts called an “unprecedented” inferno that has so far claimed six lives, with the death toll expected to rise.But that policy is expected to come under intense scrutiny after what fire industry experts called an “unprecedented” inferno that has so far claimed six lives, with the death toll expected to rise.
Darren Baird, a former senior fire safety officer with the Greater Manchester fire service and the managing director of Total Fire Services, said he expected the stay put policy to be reviewed for council blocks that have undergone major refurbishment work, like Grenfell Tower.Darren Baird, a former senior fire safety officer with the Greater Manchester fire service and the managing director of Total Fire Services, said he expected the stay put policy to be reviewed for council blocks that have undergone major refurbishment work, like Grenfell Tower.
“I’ve been to hundreds of tower block fires and every one has been contained in the flat of origin. It very, very rarely spreads beyond even the room of origin,” he said.“I’ve been to hundreds of tower block fires and every one has been contained in the flat of origin. It very, very rarely spreads beyond even the room of origin,” he said.
“Our general advice would be that unless the fire is in your flat, stay put. Unless you’ve had refurbishment work that you’re unsure of, stay put. It’s been inherent and built into buildings and tower block designs since the 1950s.”“Our general advice would be that unless the fire is in your flat, stay put. Unless you’ve had refurbishment work that you’re unsure of, stay put. It’s been inherent and built into buildings and tower block designs since the 1950s.”
The stay put advice was reviewed following the Lakanal House fire, in south London, in which three women and three children died in July 2009.The stay put advice was reviewed following the Lakanal House fire, in south London, in which three women and three children died in July 2009.
The fire service was criticised at an inquest into the Lakanal House blaze for its lack of consistency in telling residents to stay put or get out, but a review of the policy determined that it should not be altered.The fire service was criticised at an inquest into the Lakanal House blaze for its lack of consistency in telling residents to stay put or get out, but a review of the policy determined that it should not be altered.
Baird, who advises seven major housing groups on fire safety, said the principles of the policy are based on flats that contain a fire for at least 60 minutes, sometimes up to three hours, before the fire service arrives.Baird, who advises seven major housing groups on fire safety, said the principles of the policy are based on flats that contain a fire for at least 60 minutes, sometimes up to three hours, before the fire service arrives.
However, he said this “60-minute box” principle goes out of the window if major refurbishment works have introduced defects.However, he said this “60-minute box” principle goes out of the window if major refurbishment works have introduced defects.
“If it’s your flat that’s on fire you evacuate, if it’s not your flat then you’re ‘normally’ safe to remain where you are,” he said. “The thing that conflicts with that is if there’s been some refurbishment work done and that has altered that compartmentation.”“If it’s your flat that’s on fire you evacuate, if it’s not your flat then you’re ‘normally’ safe to remain where you are,” he said. “The thing that conflicts with that is if there’s been some refurbishment work done and that has altered that compartmentation.”
Baird said the major refurbishment of Grenfell Tower may have left the building “like swiss cheese”, full of holes that would accelerate the spread of the blaze.Baird said the major refurbishment of Grenfell Tower may have left the building “like swiss cheese”, full of holes that would accelerate the spread of the blaze.
“There’s evidence that the floors may have been reconfigured, heating systems may have gone in and external cladding has been fitted – that changes the parameters [of the advice to stay put],” he said.“There’s evidence that the floors may have been reconfigured, heating systems may have gone in and external cladding has been fitted – that changes the parameters [of the advice to stay put],” he said.
UpdatedUpdated
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Residents in Grenfell Tower were repeatedly reassured about fire safety by their landlord, according to local councillor Judith Blakeman.Residents in Grenfell Tower were repeatedly reassured about fire safety by their landlord, according to local councillor Judith Blakeman.
She told the Press Association that residents had expressed concerns about fire safety in the block “over several years” and had constantly been reassured by Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which runs the council’s homes.She told the Press Association that residents had expressed concerns about fire safety in the block “over several years” and had constantly been reassured by Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which runs the council’s homes.
Blakeman said: “The residents have expressed concern over several years about the fire safety at the block and they’ve constantly been reassured, ‘No, it’s OK, your flat is secure for an hour unless you’re close to the fire. Stay in your flat and you’ll be rescued within the hour by the fire brigade.’Blakeman said: “The residents have expressed concern over several years about the fire safety at the block and they’ve constantly been reassured, ‘No, it’s OK, your flat is secure for an hour unless you’re close to the fire. Stay in your flat and you’ll be rescued within the hour by the fire brigade.’
“The fire brigade have undertaken a recent inspection and said it’s OK, because the residents kept demanding it and we kept demanding it on behalf of the residents.“The fire brigade have undertaken a recent inspection and said it’s OK, because the residents kept demanding it and we kept demanding it on behalf of the residents.
“Obviously I’ve raised these issues about Grenfell Tower at the board as well. It’s all, ‘Don’t worry, it’s OK.’“Obviously I’ve raised these issues about Grenfell Tower at the board as well. It’s all, ‘Don’t worry, it’s OK.’
“We were told that in response to all concerns raised by residents they had invited the local fire station in to do a safety survey and they were content that everything was in order.”“We were told that in response to all concerns raised by residents they had invited the local fire station in to do a safety survey and they were content that everything was in order.”
Blakeman said KCTMO told her both its health and safety officers and the fire brigade had inspected the building and that everyone was “quite happy”.Blakeman said KCTMO told her both its health and safety officers and the fire brigade had inspected the building and that everyone was “quite happy”.
She said: “But if the cladding was partly responsible for the fire we need to know what the specification for the cladding was and why it suddenly just went up [in flames] in about five minutes, because it should have been fire resistant, surely.”She said: “But if the cladding was partly responsible for the fire we need to know what the specification for the cladding was and why it suddenly just went up [in flames] in about five minutes, because it should have been fire resistant, surely.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.39pm BSTat 2.39pm BST
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14:0414:04
Alexandra ToppingAlexandra Topping
Firefighters in their gear at the scene said they could not speak freely but they had been in the fire, rescuing residents. Some had used up four oxygen canisters, known as BA (breathing apparatus), going in and out of the flames. Cuts to the fire service had taken a serious toll on operations, they said.Firefighters in their gear at the scene said they could not speak freely but they had been in the fire, rescuing residents. Some had used up four oxygen canisters, known as BA (breathing apparatus), going in and out of the flames. Cuts to the fire service had taken a serious toll on operations, they said.
Put it this way, you’re meant to work on a fire for a maximum of four hours, we’ve been here for 12. Hopefully we’ll get home at some point before we have to come back tonight.Put it this way, you’re meant to work on a fire for a maximum of four hours, we’ve been here for 12. Hopefully we’ll get home at some point before we have to come back tonight.
One firefighter said he’d never seen a fire like it.One firefighter said he’d never seen a fire like it.
And I hope I never do again. It would be unlucky to see this twice. It was surreal.And I hope I never do again. It would be unlucky to see this twice. It was surreal.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.37pm BSTat 2.37pm BST
2.02pm BST
14:02
Harriet Sherwood
At the Westway sports centre, a steady stream of people are carrying bags of donated supplies through the main entrance which has begun to resemble a refugee camp.
Mattresses are being laid in a sports hall ready for those made homeless by the fire.
Large numbers of volunteers are sorting through food and clothing, although staff are saying they are close to capacity. “It’s a good problem to have,” said one.
Esther Watts, 50, was at her home in an adjacent block of flats, Hurstway Walk, when she was woken in the early hours by her dog barking and someone banging on her door. She opened it to find a police officer saying: “Get out now, go now, there’s a fire.”
She sent her 12-year-old son Aidan ahead of her while she dressed and collected the dog, Rosie. She left her three cats in the flat. “I hope they’re still there,” she said.
Watts said she was worried about a friend who lives on the 18th floor of Grenfell Tower with her two young children, and another friend who lives on the 14th floor with her toddler son. She has not heard from either woman.
Justine Bell was also asleep in a friend’s flat in Grenfell Walk, 100 metres from the tower. She said she saw two children on about the 15th floor crying for help, and above them a rope made from bedsheets “like Rapunzel”.
When she started watching, the fire was relatively contained “but it spread so quickly”. She added: “I’m pretty traumatised.”
She was particularly worried about her friend, who has a mental illness and whose medication was in the flat. “We need to get some help,” she said.
Updated
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13:56
Peter Walker
Theresa May’s newly appointed chief of staff promised last year that the government would review fire safety regulations, but the changes have yet to be published.
Gavin Barwell, who was housing minister before losing his seat in last week’s general election, was swiftly made the prime minister’s new main aide, following the departure of the much-criticised Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy.
Following the massive and fast-spreading fire at Grenfell Tower in west London, in which at least six people have died, some fire safety experts have said that delays to the regulations could have made such tower blocks more deadly in a fire.
Barwell told the Commons in October that part B of the building regulations, which cover fire safety, would be reviewed as part of a process following a 2009 fire at a tower block.
The blaze at Lakanal House in Camberwell, south-east London, killed six people, with an inquest finding it spread because botched renovations compromised fire stopping between the flats.
“We have not set out any formal plans to review the building regulations as a whole, but we have publicly committed ourselves to reviewing part B following the Lakanal House fire,” Barwell said. However, since then his department has not published any review.
Dr Jim Glocking, technical director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), an industry body, said his organisation had been pushing for a review of fire-related building regulations for some time (see earlier).
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Green party London assembly member Siân Berry has called for an inquiry into the fire and spoken of her alarm about claims that residents’ concerns about fire safety were ignored.
She said: “It is striking that there are still no central fire alarms and drills required for residential buildings compared with any office, and it appears that residents’ concerns were not addressed.”
.@sianberry's statement on the Grenfell Tower fire pic.twitter.com/iUzncODrJP
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13:43
Here’s the front page of the Evening Standard.
Here's our final edition @EveningStandard on this sad day pic.twitter.com/Dgk6kOsLW4
The paper reports that a 12-year-old girl, Jessica Urbano, is among the missing.
She phoned her mother from a fire escape at 1.39am but she has not been heard from since.
1.35pm BST
13:35
Cladding review launched
Robert Booth
Dozens of tower blocks from the 1960s and 1970s have been refurbished with new thermal cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower and a review of some of those installations is already under way, the Guardian understands.
A construction industry source confirmed that professionals were examining multiple refurbishment projects in the wake of the fire.
One architect, who has been responsible for several re-cladding projects but asked not to be named, said that the common rainscreen system used on Grenfell Tower is designed to include fire-breaks at every floor and around every window.
He said that if installed correctly, flames should not be able to sweep through the cavities behind the panels because of the fire retardant breaks.
“The issue is the cavity between the existing wall and the rainscreen,” he said. “There needs to be firestops at every floor level and around every window.”
It is not yet known what caused the fire or how it spread. Rydon, the contractor said it “met all required building control, fire regulation and health and safety standards”.
The architect added that 1970s blocks such as Grenfell featured “one escape stair which is not designed for a mass evacuation, but is designed for a small number of people to get out whose individual flats are on fire”.
He said the “stay put” strategy which was in place at Grenfell was intended to stop people getting hurt if a small number of flats were on fire.
“The ‘stay put’ strategy clearly wouldn’t work when the fire is roaring up outside the building,” he said. “That is a strategy that would lead to certain death in the circumstances of this fire.”
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13:28
Sarah Marsh
People have been offering food, shelter and support to those affected by the Grenfell fire. Here are some of the ways you can help:
The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund has just launched an emergency appeal to raise funds on behalf of residents of the Grenfell Tower. You can donate here.
Volunteers are calling for donations, including blankets, food, clothing and other essential items for those who have been affected. Westway Sports Centre posted to call for donations on its Facebook page.
You can also send donations to London restaurants Tredwells, The Gilbert Scott and Marcus Belgravia who are dropping off items Thursday and Friday.
If you can't get over to W11 we'll be doing drops tomorrow & Friday pm - collections welcome @Tredwells @Thegilbertscott & @MarcusBelgravia https://t.co/Iylwo8Kp90
Juliette Jowit adds:
After one parent visited a centre for Grenfell residents who escaped the fire, a primary school in west London began what will surely be a widespread trend to collect items to help.
Survivors who have lost all their possessions most need nappies, children’s toys and books, bedding, towels, toiletries - including sanitary products and loo roll - non perishable food and water, said St Mary’s and St Peter’s in Teddington.
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13:23
Haroon Siddique
Friends are searching for a mother and daughter who are missing after the fire.
Artist Khadija Saye, 24, who is currently showing her work in the Venice Biennale, was in her flat on the 20th floor, with her mother, Mary Mendy, who is thought to be in her 50s.
Tottenham MP David Lammy tweeted for help in tracing his “dear friend” Saye:
If you have any information about Khadija Saye pls contact me. She is our dear friend, a beautiful soul and emerging artist. #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/quSP6PtD7V
Lammy’s wife, the artist Nicola Green, said:
We’re desperately trying to communicate with all the hospitals. We’re told some people have been rescued up to the 19th and 20th floor. She was on the 20th floor. Nobody has any information at this point.
Green said Saye was last heard from at 3am when she was direct messaging from her flat, as her phone was not working.
She was on Facebook saying she was unable to get out of the flat, that the smoke was so thick. She was saying she just can’t get out and, ‘Please pray for me. There’s a fire in my council block. I can’t leave the flat. Please pray for me and my mum.’
At one point she said she’d just tried to leave again and said it was impossible. She said she felt like she was going to faint. Someone asked, ‘Did you try going down low with towels?’ She said ‘Yes, it’s in my room.’ I’m assuming she meant the smoke.
Green who has her friend and fellow artist for four years, said:
We are all praying for her. She’s got artists and friends and colleagues all praying for her … She’s got a huge career ahead of her. She’s received an enormous amount of attention in her first major exhibition. She’s an incredible, amazing, soulful artist.
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13:16
Peter Walker
A leading fire safety official has told the Guardian that his organisation has warned ministers for years that building regulations connected to fire needed to be improved, but that reviews were repeatedly delayed.
Dr Jim Glocking, technical director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), an industry body which carries out tests on fire safety issues, among other things, said a major issue was that insulation underneath cladding on the outside of tower blocks did not need to be fireproof.
Glocking said that while he did not know the situation at Grenfell Tower, the rapid spread of the blaze indicated this could be the case.
He said the association had received increasing numbers of reports about insulation on the outside of buildings catching light.
“They can be slapping on up to 300mm deep of polystyrene on the outside of the building,” he said. “It can be very significant. I have no knowledge of what happened in this particular case.”
Laboratory tests on such cladding carried out by the FPA “found that there was scope for really large-scale fire spread under certain circumstances”, he said.
“The problem with external fire spread is that, obviously, the external envelope is the communicating feature of all areas of the building. It does offer scope for very rapid and large-scale fire spread, on a scale that was unheard of, but we’re starting to hear more of, certainly around the world.”
Glocking said that while having windows open in summer would increase the spread of fire into flats, FPA laboratory tests had shown it could also happen via external wall pipes to bathrooms or kitchens.
He added: “I think the inexcusable element here is that with cladding or insulation there are choices. There will be a perfectly good non-combustible choice that can be made, but somebody is not making those calls.”
The FPA had “lobbied long and hard” for building regulations on the issue to be changed, but nothing had happened, Glocking said: “Various ministers have said over the years that there will be an imminent review, but it keeps being put on hold, in spite of organisations like ourselves campaigning very hard.”
I asked Glocking if the FPA’s message to the government had been that if nothing was done then there could be a very major incident.
He replied: “Sadly, that is very much the case.”
Updated
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13:14
Haroon Siddique
This is what we know so far:
Updated
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13:12
Harriet Sherwood
The Lancaster community centre was overwhelmed with donations by midday.
Volunteers ferried crates of water, food and other essentials from a stream of cars queueing outside.
Workers at the centre appealed for donations by putting posters on their gates but by noon the signs had been replaced with notices saying: “Unfortunately we cannot accept any more donations of clothes as we have no room.”
Inside the centre, tables were piled with baby food, nappies, toiletries and sandwiches. A separate room was crammed with clothing.
“The community has really come together,” said one of the centre’s
workers. “Local businesses are donating money and supplies. The response is amazing.”
Updated
at 2.23pm BST