The REAL Culprit For The Massive London Tower Fire: Environmentalism

[Hoosier8]

The REAL Culprit For The Massive London Tower Fire: Environmentalism (http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/the-real-culprit-for-the-massive-london-tower-fire-environmentalism)
Oh my. I wonder who will take the fall for this? OK, the real question is, "is this true"?


t’s not a stretch to say that environmentalists were partly responsible for the death of at least 17 people (and likely many more) when a fire engulfed a high-rise building Wednesday in London. The cause of the fire is known, but the environmental cladding – or exterior insulation – created what The Daily Caller (http://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2017/06/15/deadly-london-tower-fire-fueled-by-green-energy-rules/) is describing as a “chimney effect” that cause the fire to rapidly spread upwards. The Grenfell Tower was clad in the environmentally friendly exterior in 2015 as part of a $13 million retrofit.
The cladding is used to make buildings more energy sustainable and meet “green energy” regulations. There are almost 30,000 similarly clad buildings across the United Kingdom with the inexpensive cladding.

Speaking to The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/14/grenfell-tower-inferno-disaster-waiting-happen-concerns-raised/), fire officials said they were shocked at how fast the inferno spread.

“I have never seen a fire that has engulfed an entire building like this in a career of more than 30 years,” Matt Wrack, who heads the Fire Brigades Union, said.

“It could be that this is the quest for sustainability trumping other concerns,” echoed Dr. Jim Glockling of the Fire Protection Association.
“There has been an emerging body of evidence surrounding some of the materials being used and now we have an appalling demonstration of what can happen,” Glockling said.
As a result of the retrofit, Grenfell Tower became more energy efficient, but the space between the cladding and the building increased the potential damage from fires, leaving hundreds of residents at the fire’s mercy.
“There were explosions everywhere you looked, lots of bangs, blue gas coming out everywhere you looked,” Mickey Paramasivan told The Telegraph.
“About 12 floors up I saw three children waving from a window and then there was just an explosion and they disappeared,” he said. “They were three kids, they were banging on the windows, you could see their silhouettes and then bang, it just went up.”

The dangers of “cladding” have been known for years. A blog post by the Grenfell Action Group (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/14/grenfell-tower-residents-warned-catastrophic-fire-three-years/) in November 2016 warned that “only a catastrophic event” would bring attention to the building’s issue.

Government officials cautioned against the risks of cladding since at least 1999, according to The Telegraph. This is the tragic consequence of not heeding to those warnings.

[Dangermouse]

The aluminium cladding used was made with plastic fibres and not mineral. There was a fire in Australia five years ago which flagged this as a hazard. Regulations were not changed. The insulation effect is there but the design brief refers to improving the view from nearby luxury flats. The estate which includes Grenfell Tower is an island of poverty in one of the richest areas of London, and regarded as an eysore. They've got one now!
There are probably 100 or more bodies still in there, mostly kids.

There's a lot of blame to go round.

[DGUtley]

Wow. Heads will roll.

[Common Sense]

That certainly is a design flaw.

[Dr. Who]

The aluminium cladding used was made with plastic fibres and not mineral. There was a fire in Australia five years ago which flagged this as a hazard. Regulations were not changed. The insulation effect is there but the design brief refers to improving the view from nearby luxury flats. The estate which includes Grenfell Tower is an island of poverty in one of the richest areas of London, and regarded as an eysore. They've got one now!
There are probably 100 or more bodies still in there, mostly kids.

There's a lot of blame to go round.
I seem to recall in one of the several articles that I read about this fire, that there was a way to seal the ends of the panels to prevent this sort of outcome but that clearly wasn't done. Who knows whether it was even mandated. I suspect that someone will go to prison over this.

[waltky]

No way to identify some fire victims...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
London fire may have destroyed DNA needed to ID victims
June 16, 2017 — The devastating fire that struck a high-rise tower in London may have been so powerful that it destroyed much of the DNA evidence needed to identify its victims.


As firefighters keep searching the charred ruins of the Grenfell Tower public housing complex with sniffer dogs and drones, Metropolitan Police commander Stuart Cundy said there was "a risk that, sadly, we may not be able to identify everybody." Experts said the intensity of Wednesday's fire at the 24-story building will make naming victims extremely difficult, drawing comparisons to the 2001 World Trade Center terror attacks in New York, where 40 percent of the victims were never identified. "When you have a fire that takes hold like that, that is literally an inferno. You get a lot of fragmentation of bodies, charring of bones and sometimes all that's left is ash," said Peter Vanezis, a professor of forensic medical sciences at Queen Mary University in London.


https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/v.dfhad9lJXlJ7lVUiwYtA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MDtpbD 1wbGFuZQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/7bd92ef6f9ca455694c99e7cabd1be9b.jpg
Emergency workers search debris that fell at the base of the fire-gutted Grenfell Tower in London, Friday, June 16, 2017, after a fire engulfed the 24-story building Wednesday morning. London firefighters combed through the burned-out public housing tower Thursday in a grim search for missing people as police and the prime minister launched investigations into the deadly inferno, with pressure building on officials to explain the disaster and assure that similar buildings around the country are safe.

He said the temperature of the blaze at Grenfell Tower was comparable to a cremation. "The longer a fire burns, the less chance you have that there will be enough DNA left to test," Vanezis said. Still, he said if people were protected by any surrounding furniture or debris, it's possible there might be some viable DNA. Vanezis said the best chance to identify victims may be if officials find any remaining bits of teeth or bone, which are usually the last parts of the body to be destroyed. He said sophisticated techniques could be used to amplify the DNA, but noted such tests can only identify a person's family, not the individual. Vanezis added that medical devices like a pacemaker or any artificial implants could be used to identify people by finding their registration details.


https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/PzArmXPtiJaFA8LBhKxs5Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MDtpbD 1wbGFuZQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/accd685bd3a140d4a0238d67ce6d3399.jpg
Emergency workers wheel away a body from the fire-gutted Grenfell Tower in London, Friday, June 16, 2017, after a fire engulfed the 24-story building Wednesday morning. London firefighters combed through the burned-out public housing tower Thursday in a grim search for missing people as police and the prime minister launched investigations into the deadly inferno, with pressure building on officials to explain the disaster and assure that similar buildings around the country are safe.

Another complicating factor is that much of the DNA material that would normally be used to help pinpoint victims — like toothbrushes or combs — were probably also incinerated in the blaze. "Even if we get some DNA, the question will be, do we have anything to compare it to?" said Denise Syndercombe Court, a forensic science expert at King's College London. In those cases, Syndercombe Court said experts would need a DNA sample from other family members or need to see if there are any reference samples available elsewhere, like a hospital blood or tissue test.

Syndercombe Court said even tiny fragments of teeth or bone could help, explaining that DNA tests can be run on as few as 10 to 20 cells. She said many identifications would probably be done via dental records, predicting that such samples would be more likely found from people who died of smoke inhalation, rather than those killed by the fire itself. Syndercombe Court said the testing process would likely take months, as officials scour through remains, search for things like comparison DNA and go through a lengthy verification process. "People won't want to give up easily," she said, adding that officials would likely also encounter other obstacles, like trying to find people who weren't expected to be at the tower or differentiating between siblings where little DNA remains.

The timing of the fire — after the recent deadly attacks in Manchester and London — also doesn't help. "The capacity of labs to do this kind of testing is limited," Syndercombe Court said. "They're already working on forensic evidence from Manchester and London. This just adds to the backlog." As of Friday, London police said 30 people have died in the Grenfell blaze. Britain's Press Association has reported that some 70 people are still missing after the fire, based on a compilation of verified reports.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/london-fire-may-destroyed-dna-needed-id-victims-131456940.html

[Dangermouse]

I forgot to mention the OP is a lie. There are no environmental requirements that buildings be clad. British or EU. It's fake news.

[decedent]

I forgot to mention the OP is a lie. There are no environmental requirements that buildings be clad. British or EU. It's fake news.
But it's from the thefederalistpapers.org blog and has testimonials (http://thefederalistpapers.org/testimonials)and stuff.

[resister]

I forgot to mention the OP is a lie. There are no environmental requirements that buildings be clad. British or EU. It's fake news.
Wow, a claim with no link VS a claim with a link. You sure debunked that one all right!

[Dangermouse]

But it's from the thefederalistpapers.org blog and has testimonials (http://thefederalistpapers.org/testimonials)and stuff.


Hmmmmm......

[Dangermouse]

Wow, a claim with no link VS a claim with a link. You sure debunked that one all right!

It should be easy for you to find the relevant legislation, knowing so much about where I live and all....

[resister]

It should be easy for you to find the relevant legislation, knowing so much about where I live and all....Never made such a claim, I do see you called the OP (with a link BTW)a lie and go on to provide no link but a poor distraction, though.

[Dangermouse]

Never made such a claim, I do see you called the OP (with a link BTW)a lie and go on to provide no link but a poor distraction, though.

You supported a lie, with nothing to back it up. The building was clad for aesthetic reasons.
The Independent is less virulently anti-environment and anti-EU than the Express. They quote the actual planning application for the work to be done, which mentions improved insulation in passing, but not as the primary need, and doesn't mention regulations anywhere.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-cladding-fire-cause-improve-kensington-block-flats-appearance-blaze-24-storey-west-a7789951.html

[resister]

You supported a lie, with nothing to back it up. The building was clad for aesthetic reasons.
The Independent is less virulently anti-environment and anti-EU than the Express. They quote the actual planning application for the work to be done, which mentions improved insulation in passing, but not as the primary need, and doesn't mention regulations anywhere.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-cladding-fire-cause-improve-kensington-block-flats-appearance-blaze-24-storey-west-a7789951.html
I did not support shit, just wanted a link to ascertain your claim, was that so hard?

[waltky]

Many still missing...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
Police: 58 missing and presumed dead in London apartment fire
June 17, 2017 -- Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy announced Saturday that 58 people are missing and presumed dead after the fire at Grenfell Tower in London, England.


Cundy, speaking outside Notting Hill Methodist Church, confirmed the previous death toll of 30 but said 28 more people likely died in the fire at the 24-story apartment building on Wednesday. "We've worked tirelessly to confirm the number of people who we believe were in the tower on the night and, at this time we cannot assume they are safe and well," he said. "Sadly at this time there are 58 people who we were told were in Grenfell Tower on the night, who were missing, who I have to assume are dead." Police also identified the first known victim of the fire, 23-year-old Mohammed Al-Habjali, who lived in Grenfell Tower. "His family is being supported by liaison officers from the Metropolitan Police," Cundy said.Metropolitan Police said family liaison officers have been deployed to support 52 families of residents who died, were injured or were reported missing.

Cundy also said the London Fire Brigade searched "every floor of the building" and recovered 16 bodies, but added it may take weeks for the search and recovery operation to become "significant. "Both myself and colleagues from London Fire Brigade have already said it will take weeks. It may take longer than that. My commitment to families is that as soon as we can, we will locate and recover their loved ones," Cundy said. "The reason we had to pause the search and recovery yesterday was for the safety of our staff. We do not want another fatality arising out of this tragedy."


http://cdnph.upi.com/svc/sv/upi/7151497716143/2017/1/41ec2eb03861635ad64268659dbdeed4/Police-58-missing-and-presumed-dead-in-London-apartment-fire.jpg
A view shows the total destruction of the 24-story Grenfell Tower building on June 16, 2017. Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said Saturday at least 58 people missing from the apartment building have been presumed dead

As the investigation began, Cundy urged missing residents who are alive and have not come forward to contact authorities to ensure their safety. "I would like to ask anyone who was in Grenfell Tower that night, but for whatever reason has not told us they are safe to please call our Casualty Bureau," he said. "It does not matter why you have not told us, what is important is that we know you are safe."

After she met with fire victims, volunteers and local leaders, British Prime Minister Theresa May said support for families following the fire was "not good enough." "I have heard the concerns and I have ordered immediate action across the board to help victims' relatives and the survivors. People lost everything in the fire and were left in only the clothes they were wearing. I can confirm that a 5 million pound ($6 million) emergency fund that I announced yesterday is now being distributed on the ground so people can buy clothes, food and other essentials. If more funding is required, it will be provided," May said, while more than 1,000 protesters rallied outside her residence Saturday.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/06/17/Police-58-missing-and-presumed-dead-in-London-apartment-fire/7151497716143/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=4

See also:

May earmarks relief money for London fire victims; death toll at 30
June 16, 2017 - "The government is there for them," the British prime minister said Friday.


British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday announced relief funds for people affected by the massive apartment fire in London this week that killed 30 people and spawned growing calls for more government help. May announced £5 million, or $6.4 million, in aid to help victims of the Grenfell Tower fire pay for emergency supplies like food, clothing and other items. "They have been left with nothing -- no bank cards, no money, no means of caring for their children or relatives," the prime minister said in a statement Friday. "One woman told me she had escaped in only her top and underwear." The prime minister's effort came as investigators try to figure out how the raging inferno started at the tower in the North Kensington neighborhood of west London. Authorities say at least 30 people have died from the blaze, which engulfed the Grenfell Tower early Wednesday morning. "Everyone affected by this tragedy needs reassurance that the government is there for them," May added.


http://cdnph.upi.com/svc/sv/upi/6441497633050/2017/1/41ec2eb03861635ad64268659dbdeed4/May-earmarks-relief-money-for-London-fire-victims-death-toll-at-30.jpg
A view of the 24-story Grenfell Tower in west London on Friday shows large-scale devastation of the building caused by a massive fire earlier this week, which killed at least 30 people and injured dozens more.

BBC News reported Friday that about 40 additional people remain missing. Dozens were also injured in the fire, including 12 who remain in critical condition. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William visited with people affected by the fire Friday at a makeshift gathering place to counsel friends and relatives. Protesters upset with how the British government has so far handled the aftermath continued calls Friday for greater assistance. Friday, some heckled May and chanted "coward" as she made her address at London's St. Clement's Church.

Officials said Friday they are doing everything they can to relocate those displaced by the tower. British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn proposed putting some of them up in empty luxury homes owned by wealthy residents of the area -- which is a fairly affluent neighborhood. "I'm here to get some answers," protester Kais Khaldoun told the New York Times. "Kensington is one of the richest areas, how did they allow this negligence? How did they allow this tragedy to happen when it could have easily been avoided?" Officials said due to the nature of their deaths, it's possible all of the victims of the fire might not be conclusively identified. Forensic analysts are using DNA and dental methods to try and identify some of the discovered remains.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/06/16/May-earmarks-relief-money-for-London-fire-victims-death-toll-at-30/6441497633050/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=9

[waltky]

Sprinkler systems needed...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
'Combustible cladding' on 600 towers
Thu, 22 Jun 2017 : Tests on other tower blocks after the Grenfell Tower fire have shown some cladding is combustible.


Around 600 high rises across England are using similar cladding to Grenfell Tower, Downing Street estimates. Tower blocks across the UK are being examined after the London blaze, which left 79 people dead or missing, presumed dead. Three samples have been shown to be "combustible" and more results will be made public in the next 48 hours. A No 10 spokeswoman said it was a "matter of absolute urgency" to tell residents. Theresa May said all local authorities responsible for the flats had been told. The announcement comes after the boss of Kensington and Chelsea Council resigned after criticism of the London authority's response.


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1233E/production/_96585547_mediaitem96582732.jpg

Speaking in the Commons, Mrs May said that the council "couldn't cope" in the aftermath of the fire, and that it "was right" its chief executive, Nicholas Holgate, had stepped down. Councils were told to give details to the government about the cladding they used in the tower blocks by Monday. The Department for Communities and Local Government is then co-ordinating tests on it - with up to 100 able to take place in a day. A spokeswoman from Downing Street said: "So far, three samples have been found to be combustible. "We are in touch with all the local authorities to encourage them to urgently send us the samples and then we will carry out the checks that we need to see where we are with that."


https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1181D/production/_96590717_e3f6dada-a223-4182-8641-c0af0beb4f17.jpg
The new flats in Kensington Row are 1.5 miles from Grenfell Tower

She added: "Obviously nobody will be living in buildings that are unsafe. They will be rehoused if they need to be and landlords will be asked to provide alternative accommodation where that's possible." Camden Council confirmed that cladding used on its Chalcots estate would be removed after safety tests. Councillor Georgia Gould, leader of the council, said: "The new results from the laboratory show that the outer cladding panels themselves are made up of aluminium panels with a polyethylene core. "Therefore, the panels that were fitted were not to the standard that we had commissioned. In light of this, we will be informing the contractor that we will be taking urgent legal advice."

Residents' fears in Tottenham high rise (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40366646)

See also:

London copes with deep divisions after attacks, tower fire
Wednesday 21st June, 2017 - The cars still zip over London Bridge at their typical fast clip, drawing little obvious attention.


But some pedestrians walking the bridge over the River Thames each day say they find themselves glancing at the passing traffic and wondering: Is that the one? Is that the one that's going to swerve my way? The one whose driver wants to kill me for reasons I'll never quite grasp? "Of course I do think about it every day," said 55-year-old Phil Bradley, who notes with approval that police have installed extra barriers since the June 3 attack when three Islamic extremists slammed a van into pedestrians on the bridge then went on a stabbing rampage in nearby Borough Market, killing a total of eight people. "But you have to keep it in perspective."


http://cdn.bignewsnetwork.com/n241498030602.jpg

Londoners tend to take their city for granted - until something goes terribly wrong. When the great city is ticking along, its residents barely notice its unique cosmopolitan blend, its seemingly effortless mix of dozens of different cultures. But when the city's multi-ethnic personality is under threat, as it is now, people are uneasy, but also proud and protective, determined not to change their routines or their outlook. The city has endured three deadly Islamic extremist attacks in the last three months alone. And the pace of horrific events has quickened: In the last week, London's worst fire in decades claimed at least 79 lives and a group of Muslims leaving prayers marking the holy month of Ramadan were intentionally run down by a man in a van.

The city - and the country - seem divided: Between rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim, between those who welcome outsiders and those who fear them. Signs of division are everywhere - the general election in early June did not produce a clear majority for any party, leaving the makeup of the next government unclear. Still, London retains much of its imperial grace: The West End theatres are full, the pubs and restaurants are jammed with people enjoying the long lingering light of balmy summer nights. But Britain has suffered a traumatic year of political change and unrest since the momentous vote one year ago to leave the European Union.

Coming unstuck (http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/253667798/london-copes-with-deep-divisions-after-attacks-tower-fire)

[AeonPax]

`
`
I scoured the news to find any official reliable source that can back up the claim that that "environmentalism" had anything to do with this tragic fire. I found nothing. Most likely, because it doesn't exist.

[waltky]

60 more high-rise buildings at risk of catastrophic fire in London...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
UK finds 60 buildings at fire risk
WARNED OF RISKS: An insurance association said it had told authorities that external cladding made from combustible material can cause fire to spread


The fallout from London’s devastating tower block blaze continued on Sunday with the government announcing 60 high-rises have failed safety tests, as an insurance body said they had warned officials of the fire risks. The massive operation to test tower blocks follows the Grenfell Tower inferno earlier this month that is presumed to have killed 79 people after it spread at shocking speed. Suspicion has fallen on the cladding installed on the outside of Grenfell and urgent checks have found such material used on 60 other residential buildings has failed fire tests. “All landlords and fire and rescue services for these local authorities have been alerted to the results and we are in touch with all of them to support and monitor follow-up action,” local government minister Sajid Javid said.

The new figure is a significant jump from the 34 high-rise buildings in England deemed unsafe by the government on Saturday. While many people have been able to stay in their homes despite the fire risk, thousands of residents from 650 flats in north London were evacuated on Saturday. An inspection showed four of the five Chalcots Estate towers in Camden were at risk over cladding, fire doors, gas pipes and insulation, prompting a chaotic evacuation with temporary accommodation offered in a local leisure center and hotels.


http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2017/06/27/thumbs/P07-170627-311.jpg
A man walks past Dorney Tower residential block on the Chalcots Estate in London

Despite the safety fears, about 200 residents have refused to leave their homes, some of whom suffer from agoraphobia, local authority leader Georgia Gould said. “I’m going myself back to the blocks to knock on doors and have those conversations,” she told BBC television of her efforts to convince residents to leave. Gould refused to be drawn on whether there was a deadline to evacuate residents, saying: “The last thing I want to do is force people out of their homes.”

It is up to each local authority to decide whether to evacuate residents from blocks which have failed fire tests, a spokesman for the communities and local government department told reporters. As tests continue to avoid a repeat of the horror which broke out at the Grenfell Tower on June 14, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said it had warned of the risks posed by cladding in feedback to a government policy document. “In our response to the government’s housing white paper in May this year we drew attention to the fact that external cladding made from combustible material can cause fire to spread,” ABI spokesman Malcolm Tarling told reporters by e-mail.

MORE (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2017/06/27/2003673409)

[waltky]

Better to be safe than sorry...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif
German high-rise evacuated over insulation concerns in wake of Grenfell disaster
Wednesday 28th June, 2017 - A western German city has decided to evacuate an 11-storey apartment block because of concerns over exterior insulation similar to that of Grenfell Tower.


City authorities in Wuppertal said the fire risk at the building had been reassessed following the fire in London that killed at least 79 people, news agency dpa reported.


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/14DAD/production/_96712458_040297327-1.jpg
The 80 residents were told they could return to their flats when the cladding had been removed

It said replacement accommodation is available for the residents and they can return to their apartments once the insulation is removed. In all, 72 people are believed to be affected.

Aluminium composite panels used as exterior cladding are believed to have rapidly spread the fire in London on June 14, trapping residents in their homes before firefighters could save them.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/german-highrise-evacuated-over-insulation-concerns-in-wake-of-grenfell-disaster-35871460.html

See also:

Grenfell Tower fire: German flats cleared amid cladding fears
Tue, 27 Jun 2017: An 11-storey block is evacuated in Wuppertal because it has panels similar to Grenfell Tower's.


An 11-storey block of flats is being evacuated in the German city of Wuppertal because its facade has panels similar to those that caught fire at Grenfell Tower in London. At least 79 people died in the London fire and authorities in Wuppertal said the disaster had prompted a reassessment of security. The German block was built in the 1960s and houses at least 72 people. The type of cladding used at Grenfell Tower was reportedly banned in Germany. Since the 1980s only non-flammable material can be used on the external walls of buildings greater than 22m in height.


https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/0699/production/_96498610_chimney_effect_cladding_624.png

Police cordoned off the building in the Hilgershöhe district of Wuppertal on Tuesday afternoon and buses were made available to move residents to alternative accommodation. "There is danger in delaying, so we have to deal with it immediately," Martina Eckermann told Der Westen website. The residents were told they should be able to return to their homes as soon as the cladding had been removed. Since the 14 June Grenfell Tower fire, authorities have begun inspecting flats across England and found that cladding on 95 high-rise buildings is unsafe. At the weekend, hundreds of flats were evacuated from the Camden area of north London because of safety concerns over cladding and other fire risks.


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/7395/production/_96698592_040294356-1.jpg
The fire at Grenfell Tower started on the fourth floor and spread to the 24th floor

During the last fire inspection of the Wuppertal block, flammable insulation material was found with a wooden sublayer, and concerns were raised about narrow corridors and a lack of fire alarms, the head of the city's building department was quoted as saying. Escape routes could quickly become filled with smoke in the event of a fire. Residents were told to take only one suitcase before the building was sealed to prevent looting. They were due to be moved to flats that had been intended for refugees but were now empty. Testing is expected to take place on another 70 buildings in Wuppertal.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40420954

[waltky]

Heads about to roll over Grenfell fire...
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif
Corporate manslaughter charges possible in Grenfell Tower fire, British police say
July 27, 2017 -- British police said Thursday they have "reasonable grounds" to suspect that local authorities may have committed corporate manslaughter in a deadly high-rise fire in London.


The Metropolitan Police force said it has officially informed the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which owns the Grenfell Tower public housing block, and the management group the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Association that they are under suspicion. The news came in a letter from police sent to residents of the building. The letter said a senior representative of each body will be interviewed about the fire as part of the police investigation. The police force confirmed to The Associated Press that the letter is genuine, but stressed it does not mean a decision has been made on whether to charge any individual or organization.

Police have said for weeks that their investigation will consider whether anyone should be charged with a crime, including manslaughter charges. The force said Thursday it was "considering the full range of offences, from corporate manslaughter to regulatory breaches." At least 80 people died June 14 when an early morning fire ripped through the west London high-rise. It was the deadliest fire in Britain in more than a century. Huge investigations by police, fire officials and others are underway to determine how a blaze that started with a refrigerator in one apartment got out of control so quickly in the 24-story building.

Attention has focused the building's new aluminum cladding, installed during a recent renovation, and authorities want answers fast because thousands of other buildings in the country could be affected. Angry residents want to know how building regulations that were meant to be among the world's best could have failed so catastrophically. Many accuse officials in Kensington and Chelsea, one of London's richest boroughs, of ignoring their safety concerns because the building was home to a largely immigrant and working-class population.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/grenfell-tower-fire-british-police-weigh-corporate-manslaughter-charges/

[Dangermouse]

Just to be clear. They've said there's enough evidence to justify a full investigation. That's embarassing enough for the council and the government, but only when that investigation's complete will the evidence be put to the Crown Prosecution Service, who decide if it's sufficient to proceed with a winnable case. Such is life under the Conservatives. The prosecutor has to be virtually certain of winning before charges get laid.

[MisterVeritis]

Wow. Heads will roll.
I tend to doubt it.