Dear BBC News
The Newsnight interview with the LFB Chief clearly states that the appropriate fire-fighting equipment was sent to the small domestic fire caused by a fridge on the 4th floor of the Tower. It was assumed, correctly so, that the Tower block was properly certified, complying with fire/safety regulations.
Due to the change in regulations relating to fire/safety certification, the LFB had no means of confirming whether this was true or not.
Does LFB have/had access to this information?
As of today, it is unclear what kind of certification, if any, was issued to the Tower after the ‘upgrade’.
In this respect, the KCTMO was responsible for having this carried out by the LFB or independent fire/safety consultants. Due to change in regulations, the LFB could not carry out an unannounced inspection, as might have been the case in the past.
What happened next was unpredictable, very much like the collapse of the Tower in 9/11.
For reasons still unknown, the cheaper, unsafe Tower cladding was engulfed in flames within SECONDS, as seen on the videos.
This was a COMPLETELY NEW EVENT. How was it handled by the LFB?
To the best of their knowledge, experience, and proper training.
What they were facing was SOMETHING NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Stop blaming the LFB.
The buck stops with the KCTMO CEO, Mr. Robert Black, who has ‘stepped aside to help with the inquiries.
On full pay he is, God knows where.
He should be enjoying the hospitality of the Ladbroke Grove Police station.
Someone somewhere is manipulating the media to deflect the responsibility for this ghastly, unprecedented inferno from a TORY managed RBKC, which owns the KCTMO.
Had the cladding been up to standard, you would NOT be reading these lines.
In short: STOP COVERING UP FOR TORY RBKC.
Kind regards
F***** B******
London W 10
The London Fire Brigade is an outstanding organisation with the most dedicated, outstanding, men and women fighting fires along with those working in fire prevention and support roles. Our thanks, gratitude and praise of them should know no bounds!
ReplyDeleteBy contrast the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation has failed miserably as an incompetent social housing provider that is not fit for purpose. The KCTMO was warned repeatedly about fire safety issues by Grenfell residents and concerns were expressed over the cladding. These entirely legitimate concerns were not heeded, if they had been we would not where we are today with 79+ people dead.
Similarly, my entirely legitimate concerns were not treated with the seriousness that they deserved when I reported a fire to the Fire Brigade and the TMO that I discovered in a TMO bin room a few years ago. I wrote to the TMO about the discovery of this fire and associated fire prevention issues. True to form, the TMO did not act responsibly about the fire prevention dimension of this matter. A TMO official had the effrontery to dispute the information that I provided in order to cover up for personal shortcomings and underperformance.
I wrote to Councillor Judith Blakeman about this matter and she did not accept that the TMO official was "clearly lying" by disputing what I said about the fire without any evidence to support the TMO's position. The ethos of the TMO has always been one of manipulating facts to distort the truth and show the TMO and its staff in the best possible light. The buck stops with the Kensington and Chelsea TMO and its Chief Robert Black for presiding over a dustbin of incompetence and maladministration.
Shane Carter said it all. I would recommend that when if he, or anyone of you, have a grievance/complaint, put your ubiquitous mobile phone to some good use: take as many relevant pictures as possible to support your claim/accusation. As you will have a documentary evidence, it will no longer be an 'allegation'.. I understand that KCTMO are not too happy when confronted by proper evidence....
ReplyDelete11.05. Don't you believe that the TMO would be on the wrong foot when it is confronted by irrefutable, incontrovertible, evidence. They would argue, if they could, that the world is flat when we all know that it is not.
DeleteIt would have been impractical for me to photograph a fire that I was trying to contain inside a bin room. In any event a photograph would not have assisted me in this situation.
I know of one resident who has taped a conversation with one TMO official so that was said could not be denied later.
There is definitely media manipulation to steer narrative towards the direction 'they' want to go. 'They' wanted to focus on the cladding and the Hotpoint fridge freezer so that people are distracted from where they should really be looking. Not saying that cladding was ok but there are other issues like why they were unwilling/unable to shut off the main gas? It shouldn't have taken no more that a few hours to do it. Why did they let the gas going for so long? They have the equipment to pinpoint exactly where the valves are in the ground. Then the issue of custom-made cladding from the US. What did they include in the plastic?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi2sqHn9XGM
Then this video from yesterday explains that people are still struggling to get appropriate accommodations yet when you glace through the social media, people have began to attack survivors for not taking up offers of accommodation. When they shout 'look towards the North', look the other way....such as art of deception.
By the way, has anyone seen the two fire exits of Chesterton Sq / Warick Road estate? A big gas pipe wraps around the entrances, much like Grenfell, that in case of fire arising from that pipe, the residents will not be able to escape. It's a giant incinerator No.2. I'm sorry to say this but it's a reality and the exposed gas pipe is accident waiting to happen. Apparently National Grid said it's safe. How can it be safe when there was a car crash just around the corner and a brick wall was smashed recently. I don't know if complacency of National Grid is anything to do with stake worth 13.8bn sold to foreign consortium comprising of Australian bank, Chinese and Qatari state investors.
Please let us know if there are any more giant incinerator in the borough.
any large building has the potential of becoming one, as faults could be found with many of them. It depends on how carefully you look.
DeleteWhat was in the plastic? Load of combustible material, which should not have been there, had TMO/RBKC opted for the more costly and fire-reisitant sandwich filler.
However, there is a difference between accident, 'accident'.
DeleteWe must not forget those within the KCTMO Homeownership team and others who also bear responsibility and must be brought to justice: Mr Peter Maddison, Mr Daniel Wood, Mr David Ward, Mr Nisral Islam, Ms Barbara Matthews. All those councillors who would not listen or be bothered to help or represent their ward when informed, including Cllr Paul Warwick, Cllr William Pascal - they must be investigated in the enquiry and roles questioned
ReplyDelete19.02. Someone thinks like I do.
DeleteWhy is Robert Black still at the TMO?
Why has the RBK&C housing management service not been taken over by a Commissioner appointed by Government?
Could it be that Government is trying to protect its Tory Flagship Council at the expense of Grenfell Survivors and other social housing residents being done down by the TMO.
With regards to Councillors, let us not forget those Councillors, Tory and Labour, who languished on the TMO Board for years fully aware of how bad the TMO was and who played along with the tenant management sham; a sham that had catastrophic consequences.
Don't worry 07.46.
DeleteThe Grenfell Survivors will be alright because they've got Emma Dent Coad MP, RBKC Councillor and former Director of the TMO speaking out for them.
She will do really well. She is a big hit with everyone.
DeleteYes, the Grenfell people will be alright with Dent Coad looking out for them. She is now talking about "white men in grey suits." Seems to know what is wrong with society.
Delete06.08. What an ignorant and pejorative remark," white men in grey suits" no less than I would expect from someone at her level of ability.
DeleteIt is racist to negatively stereotype young blackmen as " hoodlums."
DeleteSo why should it be acceptable for Emma Dent Coad MP to negatively stereotype "white men wearing grey suits" implying that white men in grey suits tell black people what to do. Greg Hands MP only suggested that the decision on the location of the carnival this year should be decided by the Mayor of London. The Mayor is not a white man in a grey suit.
Why Emma commented on skin pigmentation in these unnecessary terms is beyond me.
Lets also not forget that whilst said Khan has actually done very little of what he promised whilst trying to get elected mayor he is always out and about for a big story, ready to condemn and place blame on LFB cuts etc I agree LFB cuts were wrong, but Mr Khan you had ample opportunity to review the LFB budget you had the budget to overturn the cuts you said were wrong yet you didn't, in fact you did not even meet with the LFB Commissioner and ask her what she needed until after Grenfell. There are many politician's of all parties who need to answer some questions.
ReplyDeleteDear humanoid friends: you have been bamboozled by ghastly media fiends. Let's don't forget that there were TWO fires and they must be treated as such. The 1st allegedly caused by a faulty fridge/freezer and the 2nd as a result of heat coming from the 1st fire - as it may appear.
ReplyDeleteLFB was well equipped to deal with the 1st and NOT at all for the 2nd, which was an utter SURPRISE.
It is questionable whether the tall platforms would have accessed the back of the tower, nearest to the tube viaduct.
Be interesting to see what next week will bring.
People have gone out of their way to test the cladding themselves in their workshop. The result was that, it burns but not to the extent that the fire would reach the top of the tower within 30 mins. In another words, there had to be another source of fuel to keep the fire to spread so rapidly. For anyone going with the theory of heat transference through the wall, they had 25cm of concrete followed by Celotex's insulation foams which did the job because you can see some were still yellow and did not burn so easily. IF embers flew out of the burnt window, don't you think the firemen would have poked their heads out of the window to check outside once the kitchen fire was put out? I can't believe they are that complacent.
Deletewhat another fuel source? There would have to be a great amount of it to produce such an inferno. Embers would have to hit exposed material to ignite it? Possible? as for firemen perhaps they did not see the embers, if any. Theories will prevail.
DeleteIt's not theory that the UK's wealthiest council's penny pinching cost so many lives. That's established fact. The building is terrifying black. Only a small percentage of the yellow insulation seems to be left unburned. There's also said to be a total lack of the necessary fire break barriers that were meant to be installed at each floor.
Delete@23:49 How about gas? After all, we've seen blue flames coming out from the building and gas supply wasn't switched off for a long time. On top of that, TMO paid bribe money (£1000) to the leaseholders not to speak about the cladding or gas work so obviously it is a sore point for them. Follow the money. I am deeply disappointed that non-profit company has used rent/service charge which should have been used to improve homes but they've paid people for silence.
DeleteA little relevant aside: Kelly/Campbell must halt all the planning applications, approved or not, relating to buildings and subject them to independent scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who signed off for the installation of the outdoor gas pipes at the incinerator No.2 (Chesterton SQ)? The residents weren't informed of the work and it just appeared one gloomy day. Have we reached a point where the Council cannot be bothered to apply for a planning permission, arrange a consultation or write a letter to let residents know about their plan? I can understand that they feel, the residents stand on their way of lucrative projects but it has become something like 'We do what we like regardless, die!'
DeleteI saw that they have put a mickey mouse wire cage around the bottom part of the pipe today. That doesn't even give you the feel good factor, anyone will know that the wire cage will be ripped apart if a car/van crashes into it. KCTMO, please do the right thing. The location of the pipe is utterly wrong.
DeleteFinal thought: sinister theories are emerging: additional fuel (accelerant); Youtube claims that the 4th floor resident packed a bag; the man in blue vest who made such an eloquent statement to Victoria Derbyshire, cannot be traced.
ReplyDeleteOn the day of rage, the suvivors have organised a meeting to discuss a way out of the whole Grenfell mess. The meeting which would have attracted may be 100 the most was cancelled by police on the basis of security. Security!? when they didn't cancel The Day of Rage!!! See the manipulation? Not just media.
DeleteFire Breaks between each floor were removed during the refurb. They were not replaced . Gas Pipes were installed where they used to be . Negligence lies with the TMO and The Cabinet of RBKC. No ifs no buts . Prison for Nick Paget Brown, Rock Fielding Mellon and Robert Black. Corporate Manslaughter .
ReplyDeleteagree... question to be answered now: how did the 2nd fire start?
DeleteDon't forget Lightfoot, Cabinet Member for Our Money. With £300 million sitting in the bank, he scrimped and saved on the quality of refurbishment for high rise flats housing some of RBKC's poorest residents. Just imagine such a deadly fire in Knightsbridge.
DeleteBlame anyone but us . Conservative Policy .
ReplyDeleteThe gas supply to the building wasn't turned off for 36 Hours.
ReplyDeleteapparently, the FB could not find the gas stop cock, which was under a mountain of bodies and rubble.
Delete@08:31 The valve that stops the gas supply for the whole area/street is located in the ground, under the road nearby so the explanation of 'mountain of bodies & rubble' is total nonsense. Whoever told such lie is banking that the unsuspecting public will glance over an important crime evidence i.e. misdirection.
DeleteWhich parents would want to send their kids to the Academy, right next to the tower that it might collapse anytime?!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/6YvmHpil8qU