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Latimer Road fire

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  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,477
    ValleyGary said:

    NorthStandUltra said:

    Police confirming that 6 people have died in the fire but this number is expected to rise

    Once they get into the building that number will shoot up.

    So sad.
    I too fear that will be the case VG.
  • charltonkeston
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,359
    Greenie said:

    Redvalleyeast said:

    Im a central london firefighter and have attended many high rise fires and they are our worst nightmare with fire spread etc. There was something majorly wrong with that building for the fire to spread that quickly. There really wouldnt be much that could be done for anyone trapped higher up,our biggest ladders reach 9 floors. Logistically it takes time to get the resources on scene and equipment up the building and the manpower required. We work in crews of 2 when entering fires so you can imagine with a fire of that size the amount of firefighters and equipment needed. My thoughts are with those affected and with my collegues involved. RIP to those poor souls.

    As an ex-firefighter based in Kent I echo the above, luckily I never had to attend a real high rise flat shout, although the training for the same was arduous enough and very time consuming (laying guidelines etc). RIP to all those who have lost their lives.
    Davo55 said:

    Truly awful

    Re helicopters, I would imagine that the downdraft of air they would push into the fire could make it even worse? Don't know.

    RIP and thoughts with all those affected.

    Our emergency services yet again showing themselves to be incredibly brave in their service of our society.

    Yes this would happen and it would be way to hot to get close, Piers Morgan actually suggested this morning that maybe we could lower the SAS from helicopter to help rescue anyone trapped.........
    This is one of my pet hates. Not just Piers Morgan, (but him more than most), the man with the microphone is the font of all knowledge and an expert in everyone else's job.
    He's at best a TV presenter with a shit name.
    He should, instead fanciful ideas and nonsense, be asking relevant questions about the building and maybe what about asking questions about cuts and changes to emergency services.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,296
    ShootersHillGuru said:

    carly burn said:

    Not a good time to be a mayor of this great city, but Sadiq Khan is so far out of his depth imo.

    What on earth could he have done about any of the recent tragedies to befall our city ?

    nothing - its the way he speaks and handles the media after these events which is his downfall, in this day and age everyone has access to interviews etc.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    edited June 2017
    PaddyP17 said:

    carly burn said:

    Not a good time to be a mayor of this great city, but Sadiq Khan is so far out of his depth imo.

    Oh I forgot he's basically God and can prevent fires and terror attacks at will, yeah wtf man why isn't he doing more

    /s
    We may have our views about this person or that person, but there is no need to lower ourselves and turn this tragic event into an opportunity to criticise those people. We do need answers, but we have to identify all the issues and who should be giving us those answers.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,296
    work not too far away kensington high street, and this morning has been constant emergency vehicles going up and down the street.
  • PaddyP17
    PaddyP17 Posts: 13,035
    MuttleyCAFC said:

    PaddyP17 said:

    carly burn said:

    Not a good time to be a mayor of this great city, but Sadiq Khan is so far out of his depth imo.

    Oh I forgot he's basically God and can prevent fires and terror attacks at will, yeah wtf man why isn't he doing more

    /s
    We may have our views about this person or that person, but there is no need to lower ourselves and turn this tragic event into an opportunity to criticise those people. We do need answers, but we have to identify all the issues and who should be giving us those answers.
    I'd like to clarify I absolutely was not attacking Sadiq Khan, but rather, the comment that said he was "out of his depth". The "/s" is meant to mean sarcasm.

    Either way, the first focus is establishing what happened in this terrible tragedy and then acting accordingly. I cannot fathom how everyone affected must be feeling - thoughts with all.
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,034
    palarsehater said:

    ShootersHillGuru said:

    carly burn said:

    Not a good time to be a mayor of this great city, but Sadiq Khan is so far out of his depth imo.

    What on earth could he have done about any of the recent tragedies to befall our city ?

    nothing - its the way he speaks and handles the media after these events which is his downfall, in this day and age everyone has access to interviews etc.
    Always seems to handle himself very well in my eyes, far more professional and empathetic than any of our previous mayors.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    edited June 2017
    Sorry yes, I quoted you but know you were responding to the previous poster's inapropriate comment.
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 37,975
    image
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  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    I am gobsmacked that fire crews are still working in that building. The conditions must be unbelievable.

    Brave brave people.
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,034
    Is there still a chance that it may come down or has it been secured ?
  • micks1950
    micks1950 Posts: 943
    se9addick said:

    Is there still a chance that it may come down or has it been secured ?

    Fire chief says they've got a structural engineer monitoring it.
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    micks1950 said:

    se9addick said:

    Is there still a chance that it may come down or has it been secured ?

    Fire chief says they've got a structural engineer monitoring it.
    Is he an expert ?

  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,651
    ShootersHillGuru said:

    LenGlover said:

    AddickFC81 said:

    One thought on BBC news someone saying it was possibly a fridge fire on the 4th floor was the cause of the fire and the thought that it was the cladding on te building that caused the fire to spead so quickly.

    High Rise buildings are meant to have sprinkler systems fitted to extinguish fires at source.

    http://www.highrisefire.co.uk/docs/fpb.pdf

    http://www.bafsa.org.uk/sprinkler-information/legislation.php

    http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/which-councils-are-retrofitting-high-rises-with-sprinklers/7010543.article

    My late father spent his working life fighting bureaucrats who tried to resist legislation insisting on sprinkler systems etc.
    Certainly wouldn't have done any harm but the spread of this looks to have been predominantly outside the building.

    You are correct though. Even if one life was saved it would be justified.

    Not seen the pictures so I'm sure you are right re the spread.

    Nevertheless sprinkers might have extinguished the original fire before it got as far as the external cladding? As I understand it it is also possible to fit external sprinklers which might have stopped or slowed the spread.
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    Len the images are horrific and shocking.
  • cfgs
    cfgs Posts: 11,476
    LenGlover said:

    ShootersHillGuru said:

    LenGlover said:

    AddickFC81 said:

    One thought on BBC news someone saying it was possibly a fridge fire on the 4th floor was the cause of the fire and the thought that it was the cladding on te building that caused the fire to spead so quickly.

    High Rise buildings are meant to have sprinkler systems fitted to extinguish fires at source.

    http://www.highrisefire.co.uk/docs/fpb.pdf

    http://www.bafsa.org.uk/sprinkler-information/legislation.php

    http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/which-councils-are-retrofitting-high-rises-with-sprinklers/7010543.article

    My late father spent his working life fighting bureaucrats who tried to resist legislation insisting on sprinkler systems etc.
    Certainly wouldn't have done any harm but the spread of this looks to have been predominantly outside the building.

    You are correct though. Even if one life was saved it would be justified.

    Not seen the pictures so I'm sure you are right re the spread.

    Nevertheless sprinkers might have extinguished the original fire before it got as far as the external cladding? As I understand it it is also possible to fit external sprinklers which might have stopped or slowed the spread.
    Sprinklers can also be problematic due to vandalism etc. The way around that is what they now fit sprinklers that only go off in the effected compartment.
  • cantersaddick
    cantersaddick Posts: 16,912
    My brother, his girlfriend and her family live in a flat very nearby. They are all safe but they have had a very difficult night.
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 36,010
    Think it's fair to say that someone needs to face criminal charges over this if what this guy says is true.

  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,651
    cantersaddick said:

    My brother, his girlfriend and her family live in a flat very nearby. They are all safe but they have had a very difficult night.

    A 'like' seems slightly absurd in such tragic circumstances but I'm pleased your family members and friends are alright.
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  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,296
    don't know what work was done but i know recent regs any flats that we do have to have a minimum 1 hour fire time, thats to say before it spreads use of fire doors and fire collars prevent it spreading, but if the external material is flammable than would of gone up extremely quickly which is exactly whats happened, someone is responsible for this unfortunately that is of little help to the casualties families who will have to move on with there lives after probably going to bed last night as any normal night.
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,949
    carly burn said:

    Someone apparently caught a baby that had been thrown from the 9th or 10th floor!

    Wow.
    This is so tragic.

    Horrific to think of being in a situation where that is the best option.

    I can't imagine the horror of being trapped on those top floors.
  • Redvalleyeast
    Redvalleyeast Posts: 4,689
    ShootersHillGuru said:

    I am gobsmacked that fire crews are still working in that building. The conditions must be unbelievable.

    Brave brave people.

    As you know from your time in the brigade SHG we will still commit crews all the while theres still even a small chance of finding people alive. Im back on duty tomorrow morning so will no doubt find out more and would imagine we will be there for a good few days.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 51,990
    edited June 2017
    I'm grateful that I've never had to live in a tower block, wouldn't fancy it at all.

    I got offered a job in a Canary Wharf tower block many years ago. I turned it down, because I didn't fancy working on the 15th floor.
    10 floors would be my limit I think.

    I've got a feeling the death toll could run into 3 figures here, although I've not listened to the news, only read this.

    RIP.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,220
    BBC Breaking News‏Verified account @BBCBreaking 11m11 minutes ago
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  • ken from bexley
    ken from bexley Posts: 5,083
    I do not want to add to the speculation, as someone who lived in a much more modest high rise in Charlton when I was younger, that has been 'refurbed' since I would be wanting some considerable reassurance. If the building does meet current building regs they need to be reviewed.
    I looked out on this estate from the 'media centre', truly saddened by this event from my office desk, for 5 years. To happen in one of the richest boroughs, in this day and age is almost beyond logic.
  • hoof_it_up_to_benty
    hoof_it_up_to_benty Posts: 22,442
    ken from bexley said:

    I do not want to add to the speculation, as someone who lived in a much more modest high rise in Charlton when I was younger, that has been 'refurbed' since I would be wanting some considerable reassurance. If the building does meet current building regs they need to be reviewed.
    I looked out on this estate from the 'media centre', truly saddened by this event from my office desk, for 5 years. To happen in one of the richest boroughs, in this day and age is almost beyond logic.

    The cladding seems to have been connected to a number of fires - it does call into question whether building regs are fit for purpose if the refurbishment was signed off.
    I would have expected the cladding to be fire resistant.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,331
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    Can you just begin to imagine how many council blocks up and down the country have been similarly clad over the last few years.

    This not only will have tragically lost lives but is going to have repercussions that cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
  • Carter
    Carter Posts: 14,242
    ShootersHillGuru said:

    Can you just begin to imagine how many council blocks up and down the country have been similarly clad over the last few years.

    This not only will have tragically lost lives but is going to have repercussions that cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

    And that's just it there. These block's have been toshed up and the residents told their homes have been renovated when in actual fact they have had the equivalent of spraying lynx as opposed to having a shower. It's modus operandi, forget the fact that the cladding looks horrific after a couple of years and the real issues like fire prevention, structural integrity, damp are brushed aside. And disgraceful as this sounds, it will continue. Short-termism is the way of the world, consumables get consumed and cast aside, problems are patched over and swept under carpets as opposed to being met head on and dealt with because 'it isn't my responsibility'.

    I feel so hollow today for these people affected by this tragedy, I hope the death toll doesn't rise but we know damn well it will tragically.

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