ao link
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles

Fatalities in tower block blaze

A number of people have died in a blaze that ripped through 24 floors of a west London tower block this morning

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard

In what the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has called an “unprecedented situation” more than 200 firefighters were called to the fire on the Lancaster West Estate in north Kensington this morning. The LFB has confirmed there have been a number of deaths, but has not said how many.

Dany Cotton, commissioner at the LFB, said: “This is an unprecedented situation, with a major fire that has affected all floors of this 24-storey building, from the second floor up.


READ MORE

A stark warning: the Shepherd's Bush tower block fireA stark warning: the Shepherd's Bush tower block fire
Council prosecuted by fire service over Lakanal House blazeCouncil prosecuted by fire service over Lakanal House blaze
FBU official: tower blocks 'should prevent blaze of this kind'FBU official: tower blocks 'should prevent blaze of this kind'
Fire safeguards in Grenfell were temporarily removed during refurbishmentFire safeguards in Grenfell were temporarily removed during refurbishment
FOI: Grenfell Tower had not been risk assessed for 18 monthsFOI: Grenfell Tower had not been risk assessed for 18 months

Crews wearing breathing apparatus have been working in extremely difficult conditions to rescue people and bring this major fire under control.”

A total of 50 people have been taken to five hospitals and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) has declared a “major incident”.

Resident group Grenfell Action Group said it has repeatedly warned the owners of the block, Kensington and Chelsea Council, and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, which manages the block, about “very poor fire safety standards” in the tower. They claimed their warnings “fell on deaf ears”. It is not yet clear what caused the fire.

The government has delayed a fire safety review and experts recently warned this was putting tower blocks at risk.

Stuart Crichton, assistant director of operations at the LAS, said: “We have more than 20 ambulance crews at the scene as well as our hazardous area response team and trauma teams from London’s air ambulance who travelled to the scene by car.

“Our priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries and ensure those in the most need are treated first and taken to hospital.”

The first call to the LFB was received shortly before 1am.

The fire took hold in Grenfell Tower, part of the Lancaster West Estate, which has been undergoing refurbishment.

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Add New Comment
You must be logged in to comment.