FPA Announces That Grenfell Tower Inquiry Turns Its Attention To London Fire Brigade

Module 5 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry focuses on firefighting, with opening statements setting out a detailed analysis of operational, cultural, and leadership shortcomings of the London Fire Brigade.

The Inquiry is interested in how the London Fire Brigade trained and prepared its staff for responding to fires in all buildings as construction methods have changed over the decades.

Different legal firms

Module 5 began with opening statements from three different legal firms, representing the various groupings of bereaved, survivors, and residents. Running to around 50 pages each, the opening statements set out a damning description of how the London Fire Brigade prepared itself to respond to fires, and how the culture was impacted and how it learned from other fires.

This was followed by opening statements from lawyers representing the Greater London Authority, the Fire Brigades Union, the Fire Officers Association, and the London Fire Commissioner. The Mayor took the opportunity to set out the work that London Fire Brigade has undertaken since the fire in June 2017 where 72 people lost their lives.

Night of the fire

The Fire Brigades Union extended its criticism to the national bodies involved with fire and rescue

The Fire Brigades Union extended its criticism to the national bodies involved with fire and rescue, including CFOA, the forerunner of the National Fire Chiefs Council, and doubted the evidence of ex-Greater Manchester fire chief Steve McGuirk, who also had a leadership role in CFOA.

The Fire Officers Association concerned itself with the activities of its members on the night of the fire. Lawyers representing the London Fire Commissioner said that the London Fire Brigade fully accepted its responsibility for its operational response on the night of the fire. They too shared the work done by the Brigade since the fire to introduce improvements in its operations through new policy, guidance, and training.

Effect meaningful change

The opening statement for the London Fire Commissioner concludes: “The interests of the bereaved, survivors, and residents of Grenfell Tower remain at the very heart of the LFC’s continuing commitment to learn from the tragic events of 14 June 2017, and to effect meaningful change wherever possible.”

This week, the Inquiry will hear from Peter Groves who oversees training at the Brigade, and from Rita Dexter, former Deputy Commissioner who was no longer in post, when the fire occurred in June 2017.