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Grenfell Tower fire: Survivors' group welcomes report Grenfell Tower fire: Response must be 'national emergency', say survivors
(32 minutes later)
A survivors' group has welcomed a report on the Grenfell Tower fire as a "forensic examination" with "clear recommendations" that could save lives. A survivors' group has welcomed a report on the Grenfell Tower fire, calling for the government to treat its response as "a national emergency".
The report, published on Wednesday, followed the first phase of an inquiry, looking at what happened on the night of 14 June 2017, when 72 people died.The report, published on Wednesday, followed the first phase of an inquiry, looking at what happened on the night of 14 June 2017, when 72 people died.
It was critical of the London Fire Brigade's response and said the tower did not meet building regulations.It was critical of the London Fire Brigade's response and said the tower did not meet building regulations.
The LFB said it was "disappointed" by some of the criticism of individuals.The LFB said it was "disappointed" by some of the criticism of individuals.
Campaign group Grenfell United said the report showed "the immediate and real dangers" of "highly combustible cladding and insulation".
"Lives are at risk and the government need to treat this as a national emergency," the group said.
The report condemned the LFB for "serious shortcomings" and systemic failures in its response to the fire.The report condemned the LFB for "serious shortcomings" and systemic failures in its response to the fire.
Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said the absence of a plan to evacuate the tower was a "major omission" by the LFB and more lives could have been saved had the "stay-put" policy been abandoned sooner.Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said the absence of a plan to evacuate the tower was a "major omission" by the LFB and more lives could have been saved had the "stay-put" policy been abandoned sooner.
Campaign group Grenfell United responded: "It is heartbreaking to read that more of our loved ones could have been saved that night if the building was evacuated earlier." Grenfell United responded: "It is heartbreaking to read that more of our loved ones could have been saved that night if the building was evacuated earlier."
The group expressed concern at the report's finding that the LFB were "at risk of not learning the lessons from Grenfell", adding that firefighters were "let down by their training, procedures, equipment and leadership".
The senior leadership of the LFB "must face consequences for these failings if there is to be change", it said.
The report said evidence from London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton that she would not have changed anything about the brigade's response was "insensitive".The report said evidence from London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton that she would not have changed anything about the brigade's response was "insensitive".
Ms Cotton said many of the recommendations were welcome and would be "carefully considered".Ms Cotton said many of the recommendations were welcome and would be "carefully considered".
She expressed her "deepest sorrow at not being able to save all those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire".She expressed her "deepest sorrow at not being able to save all those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire".
She added: "We welcome the chairman's recognition of the courage, commitment and bravery of firefighters on the night, but we are disappointed at some of the criticism of individual staff members who were placed in completely unprecedented circumstances and faced the most unimaginable conditions while trying to save the lives of others."She added: "We welcome the chairman's recognition of the courage, commitment and bravery of firefighters on the night, but we are disappointed at some of the criticism of individual staff members who were placed in completely unprecedented circumstances and faced the most unimaginable conditions while trying to save the lives of others."
However, Natasha Elcock, chairwoman of Grenfell United who was rescued with her six-year-old daughter from the 11th floor, said Dany Cotton's statement was "too little too late".
"She stood up in the inquiry, in a room full of bereaved and survivors and said there's nothing she would do to change that night," she told the BBC.
"If she'd expressed that sorrow that day in that room, that potentially would have washed with us today."
Grenfell United expressed concern at the report's finding that the LFB were "at risk of not learning the lessons from Grenfell", adding that firefighters were "let down by their training, procedures, equipment and leadership".
The senior leadership of the LFB "must face consequences for these failings if there is to be change", it said.
Other issues highlighted in the report included:Other issues highlighted in the report included:
The second phase of the inquiry will focus on wider circumstances of the fire, including the design of the building.
While this was not the focus of the first phase, the report found there was "compelling evidence" external walls of the building failed to comply with building regulations and "actively promoted" the spread of fire.
It said the principal reason the flames shot up the building so fiercely was the combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding with polyethylene cores which acted as a "source of fuel".
Grenfell United said the second phase of the inquiry "must now focus on where responsibility for the devastating refurbishment [of the building] lies", with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the tenant management organisation and the companies involved facing "serious questions".