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| Grenfell Tower to Be Covered Before Deconstruction Begins | Grenfell Tower to Be Covered Before Deconstruction Begins |
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| LONDON — The charred remains of Grenfell Tower, the London high rise where at least 80 people died in one of Britain’s deadliest fires, will be covered with a protective wrap next month before being deconstructed, the manager of the site has said. | LONDON — The charred remains of Grenfell Tower, the London high rise where at least 80 people died in one of Britain’s deadliest fires, will be covered with a protective wrap next month before being deconstructed, the manager of the site has said. |
| Michael Lockwood, who is responsible for managing the recovery of the site, said on Wednesday that scaffolding would be erected around the tower in the next two weeks and that the building would be wrapped to assist in the forensics investigation and to allow materials to be recovered without spreading dust and ash across the North Kensington section of West London. | Michael Lockwood, who is responsible for managing the recovery of the site, said on Wednesday that scaffolding would be erected around the tower in the next two weeks and that the building would be wrapped to assist in the forensics investigation and to allow materials to be recovered without spreading dust and ash across the North Kensington section of West London. |
| Many of the survivors of the fire welcomed the decision to cover the 24-story building, saying that the black silhouette looming over the neighborhood was a constant reminder of the trauma felt by hundreds of residents on June 14, when the blaze broke out. | Many of the survivors of the fire welcomed the decision to cover the 24-story building, saying that the black silhouette looming over the neighborhood was a constant reminder of the trauma felt by hundreds of residents on June 14, when the blaze broke out. |
| “It’s like a black cloud of ghosts,” said Eva Levi, whose son is still missing. The remains of 40 people have been formally identified thus far, and the final death toll may not be known until the end of the year, the police say. | “It’s like a black cloud of ghosts,” said Eva Levi, whose son is still missing. The remains of 40 people have been formally identified thus far, and the final death toll may not be known until the end of the year, the police say. |
| “This is a good decision,” Ms. Levi continued. “There are still young children that look up at the building and start crying. They remember the night where they lost everything.” | “This is a good decision,” Ms. Levi continued. “There are still young children that look up at the building and start crying. They remember the night where they lost everything.” |
| The process of wrapping the charred tower and removing materials could last until November and the criminal investigation could last until January, Mr. Lockwood said during a community meeting on Wednesday at the Notting Hill Methodist Church. | The process of wrapping the charred tower and removing materials could last until November and the criminal investigation could last until January, Mr. Lockwood said during a community meeting on Wednesday at the Notting Hill Methodist Church. |
| “Then, towards the end of 2018, I think we could start to bring it down, if that is what the community wants,” he said. “And the scaffolding will help us to do that because we can do that within the wrap.” Mr. Lockwood added that all decisions would be made with input from the community. | “Then, towards the end of 2018, I think we could start to bring it down, if that is what the community wants,” he said. “And the scaffolding will help us to do that because we can do that within the wrap.” Mr. Lockwood added that all decisions would be made with input from the community. |
| The blaze, which began on the fourth floor of the tower and raced up the building, became a political crisis and a symbol of inequality in a wealthy neighborhood after cladding used on the outside of the building was found to be flammable. When more than 100 other buildings in the city were tested and found to be sheathed in similar material, thousands of people were evacuated in the middle of the night for their safety. | The blaze, which began on the fourth floor of the tower and raced up the building, became a political crisis and a symbol of inequality in a wealthy neighborhood after cladding used on the outside of the building was found to be flammable. When more than 100 other buildings in the city were tested and found to be sheathed in similar material, thousands of people were evacuated in the middle of the night for their safety. |
| Mr. Lockwood said that some flats in the Grenfell building remained untouched, while others had been destroyed in the fire. Possessions from more than 30 apartments will be retrieved and returned to residents within the next couple of weeks, he added. | |
| Many of the survivors grew angry and frustrated with what they saw as the slow response and uneven performance of the local government council in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in resettling and compensating them. The anger, which boiled over into protests, spurred the government to intervene. | Many of the survivors grew angry and frustrated with what they saw as the slow response and uneven performance of the local government council in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in resettling and compensating them. The anger, which boiled over into protests, spurred the government to intervene. |
| On Wednesday, the British government’s communities secretary, Sajid Javid, announced details of an independent Grenfell recovery task force that would help support the local council in carrying out a long-term recovery plan. | On Wednesday, the British government’s communities secretary, Sajid Javid, announced details of an independent Grenfell recovery task force that would help support the local council in carrying out a long-term recovery plan. |
| This week, residents lashed out at the judge leading the inquiry into the fire, saying that he did not represent the community. | |
| Speaking to a group of survivors on Tuesday, the judge, Martin Moore-Bick, said that while he would get to the bottom of the tragedy, he had no power to make any arrests. | |
| “An inquiry is designed to find out what happened,” he said. “I have no power to do anything in relation to criminal responsibility.” | “An inquiry is designed to find out what happened,” he said. “I have no power to do anything in relation to criminal responsibility.” |