UK - Huge fire rips through Grenfell Tower, Latimer Road, White City, London, June 2017

[Strangeworld]

They said they have rescued a significant number of people

 

[katydid23]

They said they have rescued a significant number of people

This is the first good news I have heard here in awhile.

 

[Strangeworld]

This is the first good news I have heard here in awhile.

It's wonderful to hear isn't it. Every loss of life is one too many but those brave firies have reportedly saved a lot of loved ones from tragedy.

 

[ZaZara]

Words fail .....


raying:

 

[gregjrichards]

SKY NEWS U.K - Police confirm there are six fatalities with that number expected to rise.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

There's a guy on BBC News now saying on each corner of the building there was a gap between the cladding and the original concrete walls, he reckons that gap formed a chimney / funnel effect which caused the flames to shoot up the floors. He explained it much better!

Met confirmed 6 fatalities so far.

 

[Alyce]

Simply awful.

This is an updated DM article, showing correspondence from the Grenfell action group, advising that the building was a fire hazard.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...roup-raised-concerns-fire-four-years-ago.html

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Simply awful.

This is an updated DM article, showing correspondence from the Grenfell action group, advising that the building was a fire hazard.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...roup-raised-concerns-fire-four-years-ago.html

And also mentioning the possibility of a faulty fridge being responsible. Obviously the fire investigators will be looking into this possibility.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

This is the kind of fridge that supposedly started the fire:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/492544/samsung-fridge-explosion-RS21NCNS-recall-fault

Do you have a source for it being a Samsung fridge?

All I've heard is mention of a faulty or exploding fridge, no brand mentioned.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Expert reaction to the Grenfell tower block fire

Initial statement by Dr Angus Law, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh

“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."

http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-the-grenfell-tower-block-fire/

 

[katydid23]

Do you have a source for it being a Samsung fridge?

All I've heard is mention of a faulty or exploding fridge, no brand mentioned.

Saw it in another chat group---people were discussing refrigerators being recalled for explosions and someone posted that---saying it was rumored to be the kind

 

[Spellbound]

This is so awful ... and seems it could have been prevented. :tears:

much info here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ondon-apartment-block-white-city-latimer-road

David Collins of the Grenfell Tower residents’ association said residents’ concerns about fire safety had been ignored.
Speaking to BBC News he said:

We repeatedly reported concerns to the tenant management organisation of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, including fire safety concerns which were not investigated during the regeneration works. Concerns over locations of boilers, concerns about escape, concerns about fire escape lighting, the list goes on. I spoke to councillors and they refused to investigate. They wouldn’t believe that the residents were concerned. 90% of residents signed an independent petition asking for there to be an investigation into the organisation that runs this building because they were so incompetent. And the council turned it down.
[with video]

​

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.

​

 

[missgulfsouth]

Saw it in another chat group---people were discussing refrigerators being recalled for explosions and someone posted that---saying it was rumored to be the kind

Wait. First SAMSUNG phones ... now refrigerators?

 

[Spellbound]

'Live updates" here. this may be where the info on a fridge blowing up and causing the fire started ... a resident supposedly reported it. [no brand name given]

-Construction firm Rydon, which completed a refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in 2016, said it is "shocked to hear of the devastating fire" adding that the work "met all required building control, fire regulation and health & safety standards

-One resident who had left the tower when the fire started told her it was caused by a fridge which had blown up, she added.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ts-latest-news-north-kensington-a7788836.html

 

[skibaboo]

It is going to be a long and difficult process identifying people. The building houses 600 residents most of whom will have been asleep in bed. With no shared fire alarm system it will have been too late by the time some woke up and realised.

If it's a council property presumably someone will have a list of all (official) tenants, but there will be others there too and they won't all be recognisable...

What a nightmare.

Why didn't it have a shared fire alarm system? I thought it was the law.

I live in a 'social housing' flat, the building is much smaller than Grenfell Towers and it's a housing association but the same rules apply to the safety. I have 3 fire alarms installed and maintained by my landlords, and they're all connected in the block. One goes off the main communal one does and believe me, it's that loud if you step out the door you get dizzy! I always moan when it gets triggered accidentally, because it is SO loud and will go off for up to 2 hours until someone comes to reset it, the entire time the cats freak out, but the fire brigade are always here within a few minutes to check. This system would have saved those lives, you can't possible sleep through it.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Wait. First SAMSUNG phones ... now refrigerators?

I'm keeping an open mind until the make is confirmed, assuming a fridge was the cause. According to Which? (http://www.which.co.uk/) both Samsung and Miele appliances are just about the safest and most reliable on the market in the UK.

Besides which, most appliance fires occur in washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers rather than fridges.

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2015/06...-appliances-most-likely-to-catch-fire-406053/

If a fridge (or other domestic appliance) was responsible I really do think it likely it was either a cheap brand or a second hand appliance.

 

[ScotAng]

Wait. First SAMSUNG phones ... now refrigerators?

The guy on the news who first mentioned the fridge, is still insistent his door was knocked by the tenant/owner of the flat where the fire originated. Fourth floor. He's adamant the man told him his fridge was on fire. Earlier I thought he said it exploded. Sorry, no link.

I'm not aware of faulty fridge problems on any scale here (UK), though I know they're considered one of the most dangerous appliances in the home. Washing machines and tumble dryers, a different story.
In February this year, prompted by a petition, a host of suppliers recalled potentially faulty tumble driers (UK).

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.or...desit,-creda,-swan-and-proline-tumble-dryers/

Early last year Hotpoint washing machines were also in the news, stories of machines exploding/bursting into flames.

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2016/01/hotpoint-washing-machines/


Update Writing as I watch press conference. 74 being treated, 20 currently in critical care. Death toll remains at 6, expected to rise significantly. Local hospitals urging public not to attend A&E's unless absolutely necessary. And still the fire burns more than 12 hours later. Horrendous.

 

[Alyce]

Daily Express‏Verified account @Daily_Express 1m1 minute ago

London fire: Jamie Oliver offers free food and shelter to families affected by Grenfell Tower blaze.

 

[ScotAng]

If it's a council property presumably someone will have a list of all (official) tenants, but there will be others there too and they won't all be recognisable...

What a nightmare.

The subject of a lot of debate on FB, Cags. One woman (I believe she was on the news going by posts) said 9 family members live in an apartment. That's going to be a huge problem.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The subject of a lot of debate on FB, Cags. One woman (I believe she was on the news going by posts) said 9 family members live in an apartment. That's going to be a huge problem.

I've seen an estimate of 600 residents living in a range of 1, 2 and 4 bedroom flats.