Fewer people might have died in the Grenfell Tower fire had residents been evacuated while it was still possible an official report into the tragedy said.
The public inquiry’s first report into the blaze, due to be published on Wednesday but seen by the PA news agency, identified “systemic” failures by the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick criticised the London Fire Brigade for its “stay-put” strategy when residents were told to remain in their flats by firefighters and 999 operators for nearly two hours after the blaze broke out just before 1am. The strategy was rescinded at 2.47am.
Rt Rev Graham Nichols, Bishop of Kensington, who was part of response and relief efforts, told Premier he was filled with ‘admiration for the fire service and the way they responded, but on the other hand, he said there’s been a feeling that if policy had been changed earlier, more people would have escaped from the fire.
“I think it illustrates something about the way we run our institutions,” he said.
“Do you follow the rule of regulations write the way down to the last minute? Or do you respond to the needs of the time?
“It seems to be obvious in some ways emergency services were overwhelmed by what happened with Grenfell Tower. Nothing had happened of that scale in London for years and they were rather woefully unprepared for it.”
“And that’s a great regret for them looking back on it.”
Sir Martin also said “the LFB’s…
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