One Housing began an investigation after residents of the block, which still has non-aluminum composite cladding installed, raised concerns about the waking watch’s response to a fire that occurred on 19 July.
It concluded that “overall, it appears that the response was appropriate and timely”, but Residents have referred to the findings as “gaslighting” and a “joke”.
flammable cladding
The fire is believed to have started after a cigarette was thrown into nearby bushes, resulting in a blaze that charred the block’s flammable cladding.
Construction workers removing similarly flammable cladding on a nearby high-rise helped extinguish the fire with buckets of water.
evacuation of building
Residents also criticized “confusing” communication, and that Park guard staff had allegedly been seen smokingOne Housing wrote to residents saying a “full evacuation of the building was initiated by the waking watch team.” Residents responded that they were the ones facilitating the evacuation and that Parkguard’s waking watch team was slow to respond, leaving the tenants to do it themselves, thus prompting the investigation. Residents also criticized “confusing” communication, and that Park guard staff had allegedly been seen smoking near the building and improperly discarding their cigarettes.
Vincent Dean, One Housing’s assistant director for fire, concluded that the team “followed the standard procedure and used a klaxon to alert residents and conducted door knocking.”
detailed advice
While the waking watch is responsible for raising the alarm and evacuation, Dean said “We do ask that residents also support this process by being responsible for evacuating themselves, if practical, and alerting their fellow neighbors. However, we should have been clearer in our previous communications regarding the waking watch team, and we will be sending more detailed advice regarding the team and what to do in the event of an emergency in the coming days.”
Following the investigation, Parkguard said one member of the waking watch “failed to perform to the high standards that they expect,” which is being dealt with “via their internal HR process.”
Resident safety
Dean concluded, “Upon review of the evidence and following discussions with our specialist fire safety consultants, Savills, we acknowledged that although the reports of the incident are conflicting, overall it appears that the response was appropriate and timely."
"Savills have also confirmed that they believe the actions of the waking watch team, in terms of choosing to evacuate and not fight the fire, were appropriate. Their role is to undertake evacuations. The safety of our residents is of paramount importance and we would like to thank you for raising these concerns with us.”
biased investigation
Fire marshals were the ones who were supposed to guide us through the whole thing, but we didn’t get any of that"
A resident said in response, “One Housing very clearly conducted a biased investigation to make themselves look better and it didn’t reflect the numerous comments from residents who witnessed the events of that day. I have no confidence whatsoever in their ability to keep residents safe.”
An anonymous resident also told Inside Housing, “They were completely lost. They didn’t do anything. I saw them outside looking at other people putting the fire out. One of the fire marshals pressed a horn once, but he wasn’t telling people to get out. They were the ones who were supposed to guide us through the whole thing… but we didn’t get any of that.”
useless emergency response
Another said, “They were very slow to enter the building. We managed to clear two floors of people ourselves before they even came into the building."
"I don’t know what they were doing at that time. Pretty useless as an emergency response I would say.”
