London tower block on fire

Just spotted it on youtube livefeed. Just hope they all get out safe. :(
 
Just looked at the livefeed,dont think i want to watch,God help them.
 
I came through North Ken on my way home from an Evanescence gig at Hammersmith last night, all seemed ok about half eleven, wonder when it started?
 
Nawty said:
There can't be anyone alive left in there and how many would have got out from such a tall building when everyone is asleep :(
Click to expand...
ITV showing a Chinese guy stood at the window of a higher (I assume) floor flat. Been standing there since 1am apparently so there are survivors.

Devastating for those that didn't make it and their families [emoji20]
 
Got the news on now and the worry is the building may collapse. Just hope everyone got out.
 
Horrible !

I do hope that all there get help
 
Ian W said:
ITV showing a Chinese guy stood at the window of a higher (I assume) floor flat. Been standing there since 1am apparently so there are survivors.

Devastating for those that didn't make it and their families [emoji20]
Click to expand...

Reports of people waving phone lights to attract attention, other phone calls from people trapped on the fire escape on 20th floor. Doesn't look good, over 500 people in the block, full mix of ages included elderly.
It had recently been refurbished with new cladding. One eye witness has said the cladding just caught fire. Another said his neighbour on the 4th floor had told him his refrigerator had exploded and his flat was on fire.

Pretty much a burnt out shell now :(
 
The rolling news has no clarity, so surmise it will be a while (days?) until the casualty numbers and fatalities are 'published'.

It does not bode well for low numbers of either list? :(
 
Really is shocking footage.

I was only just talking to a friend on the fire service 6 hours before this discussing the lack of house fires he now visits.
 
Sky reporter Mark White has picked up some of the debris that has been landing at a distance of 5 to 10 streets in the surrounding area. He says it is very light, and like polystyrene
 
It's still alight 10 hours after starting.
People got out 5 hours after it starting.
The fire brigade are finally getting taller ladders in place.
 
A member of the public said on LBC that she saw a woman throw her child out of a 5th floor window. How horrific is that !
 
arclight said:
A member of the public said on LBC that she saw a woman throw her child out of a 5th floor window. How horrific is that !
Click to expand...

Sky news reporting one dropped from 9th or 10th floor and caught by someone

Samira Lamrani said she saw a woman try to save a baby by dropping it from a window "on the ninth or 10th floor" to waiting members of the public below.
She told the news agency: "People were starting to appear at the windows, frantically banging and screaming.
"The windows were slightly ajar, a woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby and if somebody could catch her baby.
"Somebody did, a gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby.
 
DCRGZhRXgAEkOCR.jpg
 
The metro had an image of someone waving a rag from a window to attract attention. The Daily Fail has included it in a tryptic of the building ablaze :(
 
  • Tower blocks such as this were always a disaster waiting to happen. The fire brigade has never had the capability to fight the upper storeys and to build higher than rescuers can reach is nothing short of insane. I've always believed that three or four storeys should be the maximum.
 
The Fire Chief said that the fire stated on level 2. Eye witnesses said that once the external plastic coating was alight the entire side of the building was soon in flames. I suppose the heat would blow in the windows all the way up.
 
Byker28i said:
Sky reporter Mark White has picked up some of the debris that has been landing at a distance of 5 to 10 streets in the surrounding area. He says it is very light, and like polystyrene
Click to expand...

It'll be the external insulation cladding.

Apparently no integrated fire alarm. No sprinklers, flammable cladding.

Absolutely horrific :(
 
One guy has just said each flat should be able to contain the fire for 30min,but it looks like it didnt spread flat to flat but as said externally
 
chrism_scotland said:
The Met Police are reporting an initial fatality count of 6 but warn its likely to increase, very sad. Thoughts with those affected.
Click to expand...
London Ambulance Service says the number of people taken to hospitals is 64, with a further 10 people made their own way to hospital. 20 are in a critical condition
 
Rydon have made a statement
We are shocked to hear of the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower and our immediate thoughts are with those that have been affected by the incident, their families, relatives and friends.

"Rydon completed a refurbishment of the building in the summer of 2016 for KCTMO (Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation) on behalf of the Council, which met all required building control, fire regulation and health & safety standards. We will cooperate with the relevant authorities and emergency services and fully support their enquiries into the causes of this fire at the appropriate time.

"Given the ongoing nature of the incident and the tragic events overnight, it would be inappropriate for us to speculate or comment further at this stage."

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/06/14/bla...
Cladding contractor Harley Curtain Wall fell into administration shortly after completing the £3m Grenfell Tower project. The liquidators report says insolvency caused in at least part by a major customer not paying them.... It doesn't say which one
 
Byker28i said:
Sky reporter Mark White has picked up some of the debris that has been landing at a distance of 5 to 10 streets in the surrounding area. He says it is very light, and like polystyrene
Click to expand...

If that is part of the insulation then it sounds like a PIR insulation material which are not of limited combustibility and should not be used on buildings greater than 18m height unless specific fire tests have been carried out. If that is the case it could well be that fire tests were not conducted or fire break details were not correctly installed.
 
Byker28i said:
Rydon have made a statement
We are shocked to hear of the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower and our immediate thoughts are with those that have been affected by the incident, their families, relatives and friends.

"Rydon completed a refurbishment of the building in the summer of 2016 for KCTMO (Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation) on behalf of the Council, which met all required building control, fire regulation and health & safety standards. We will cooperate with the relevant authorities and emergency services and fully support their enquiries into the causes of this fire at the appropriate time.

"Given the ongoing nature of the incident and the tragic events overnight, it would be inappropriate for us to speculate or comment further at this stage."

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/06/14/bla...
Cladding contractor Harley Curtain Wall fell into administration shortly after completing the £3m Grenfell Tower project. The liquidators report says insolvency caused in at least part by a major customer not paying them.... It doesn't say which one
Click to expand...
The case study for just this one project was removed from the Rydon website this morning only for it to return an hour later which in itself I find suspicious.
 
Meanwhile Jamie Oliver has told surviovors to go to his italian restaurant at westfield (not far away) and they'll be fed

"To any of the 100's of FAMILIES effected (sic) by this terrible fire at Grenfell Tower Notting hill today, You are all welcome to come hang out in my restaurant and be fed and watered by my Jamies Italian team.

"We are in the Westfield just around the corner.

"Food and drink free of charge so just go and speak to my manager Juan and we will sort you out and give you some love .... this is for victims of the fire our thoughts, love and prayers are with you all big love jamie x x x x (sic)."
 
One of the people on the 20th floor who's missing is Khadija Saye, a photographer exhibiting at the Venice Biennial.
 
I remember Ronan Point, that led to tower blocks being all electric, about time they pulled them all down really.
 
tijuana taxi said:
I remember Ronan Point, that led to tower blocks being all electric, about time they pulled them all down really.
Click to expand...

bass_junkie83 said:
Ahh yes. Still the main case study used for the rational behind designing against disproportional collapse.
Click to expand...

I recall that and my recollection was that no one, when it was designed, considered the effect of a gas blast triggering a collapse of multiple floors........!

The rationale being that the flats are supposed to be self contained when comes to the effect of a fire or blast and if there is consequential damage it is limited in scope.
 
Last edited:
Box Brownie said:
I recall that and my recollection was that no one, when it was designed, considered the effect of a gas blast triggering a collapse of multiple floors........!
Click to expand...
I haven't been around long enough to remember the actual event, just it being discussed in my uni days.
Nowadays we have gone away from trying to think of every conceivable scenario as there is always something you don't think of. Now the thinking is more along the lines of "if this column/beam/wall were to fail, no matter how unlikely, how would the structure behave?"

Unfortunately you can't always go back and upgrade buildings every time working practice is improved or new standards implemented. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top