14/06/2026
Today we remember the 72 people who perished in the Grenfell Tower Fire on the 9th Anniversary.
At 00:54 on 14th June 2017, the London Fire Brigade received a 999 call reporting ‘fire’ in flat 16 of Grenfell Tower,Grenfell Road, North Kensington,W11.
Two appliances from G27 North Kensington Fire Station were immediately mobilised. On arrival an assistance message was transmitted to ‘make pumps 4’ as a fire was visible from the outside of the building.
Multiple 999 calls began coming in to the London Fire Brigade, who implemented the national ‘stay put’ policy, advising residents to remain in their apartments.
At 01:08 Firefighters observed the fire breach the window of the apartment of origin & begin to ignite the external cladding. A further assistance message was transmitted to ‘Make pumps 6, Aerial appliance required’.
Attempts were made to tackle the external fire with Firefighting jets however the construction & composition of the cladding resisted extinguishment by water. By 01:30 the fire had spread externally to involve the full height of the building.
At 01:35 a further assistance message was transmitted to ‘make pumps 25’.
At the time of the fire,293 people resided in the building. By 01:38 110 people had exited the building. Defective fire doors in the building allowed the single central escape stairwell to become compromised by smoke, quickly making it impassable.
Due to the volume of incoming information from those still trapped,communication to the fire ground and back to the caller, via Brigade control became confusing and ineffective. At 02:40, a further assistance message was transmitted to ‘make pumps 40’ an almost unheard of request since the Blitz of the 2nd World War.
Firefighters continued to be committed in large numbers, wearing Breathing Apparatus to search for & rescue occupants, at one stage being advised to write their names on their fire helmets due to fear of structural collapse.
Conditions were extremely arduous inside the building, quickly expiring cylinder contents due to the efforts required to operate in those conditions.
The fire was finally extinguished on 16th June 2017.
72 people lost their lives in the fire, with a further 74 being seriously injured. The youngest life claimed in the tragedy was 5 year old Isaac Paulos who had become separated from his family in the chaotic escape.
We think of the families and friends of the 72 people who lost their lives.
We think of everyone in the community who has been affected by this tragedy.
We think of the emergency services workers who carry the trauma of this event with them today.
We think of the emergency services workers who have lost their careers due to the trauma of this event.
We think of the emergency services personnel who have long term health conditions arising from operating at the incident.
We think of the emergency services workers who have died by su***de, triggered by the trauma of this event.
We hope for justice being brought to those who are responsible for the factors contributing to this tragedy.
These images although unpleasant, must remain in our minds to remember those lost & learn from the tragedy to prevent a repeat.
May the 72 rest in eternal peace.
