How the Grenfell Tower fire spread

Summary

Experts testifying at the Grenfell Tower inquiry revealed numerous safety breaches that contributed to the rapid spread of the 2017 fire. The blaze, which began in flat 16 on the fourth floor, quickly engulfed the building, spreading both vertically and horizontally. Flammable cladding, inadequate fire doors, and poorly designed windows were highlighted as key factors. Firefighters inadvertently worsened the situation by leaving doors open during the rescue. The fire ultimately claimed 72 lives, leaving many questions about how such a devastating tragedy could unfold from a small domestic fire.

Takeaways

• 🔥 The rapid spread of the Grenville Tower fire was due to numerous safety breaches.
• 🏢 Experts at the Grenville Tower inquiry highlighted the unusual nature of the fire, with the entire building engulfed in flames.
• ⏱️ The fire began in flat 16 on the fourth floor and spread rapidly upwards and across the building in just a few minutes.
• 🚒 The flames traveled both vertically and horizontally, eventually meeting at levels 22 and 23.
• 🏘️ In total, 98 flats were exposed to the flames, leading to the tragic loss of 72 lives.
• 🛠️ The cladding on the building was a primary factor in the fire's spread, with materials that did not meet fire safety standards.
• 🔧 Those involved in the 2016 refurbishment of the tower failed to assess how the new cladding would behave in a fire.
• 🪟 Windows lacked fire-resistant barriers and were surrounded by combustible materials, allowing flames to spread quickly.
• 🚪 Poorly performing fire doors and failures to self-close contributed significantly to the spread of fire and smoke.
• 👩‍🚒 Firefighters may have unintentionally worsened the situation by leaving doors ajar while battling the blaze, allowing smoke and fire to enter the stairwells.

Q & A

What was the primary cause of the rapid spread of the fire at Grenville Tower?

The primary cause was the cladding materials, which did not comply with the recommended fire performance for a building of that height, allowing the fire to spread rapidly up the exterior.

Where did the fire at Grenville Tower originate?

The fire started in flat 16 on the fourth floor of the East elevation of Grenville Tower.

How quickly did the fire spread up the building?

The fire spread from the fourth floor to the top of the 24-story building in just a few minutes.

How many flats were exposed to the fire during the Grenville Tower blaze?

A total of 98 flats were exposed to the flames during the fire.

How many people lost their lives in the Grenville Tower fire?

72 people lost their lives in the Grenville Tower fire.

What safety breaches were identified in the Grenville Tower fire report?

The report cited multiple safety breaches, including non-compliant cladding materials, lack of fire-resisting cavity barriers around windows, and poorly performing fire doors that allowed fire and smoke to spread.

What role did the firefighters possibly play in the spread of the fire and smoke?

Firefighters may have contributed to the spread by leaving doors ajar as they fought the blaze, allowing fire and smoke to enter the stairwell.

At what time was the first image of the flames outside flat 16 captured?

The first image of the flames outside flat 16 was captured at 1:09 a.m.

Where did the flames meet during the fire's spread?

The flames met at levels 22 and 23 near the southeast corner of the building.

What other factors besides cladding contributed to the spread of the fire?

Other factors included the lack of fire-resisting cavity barriers around windows and combustible materials surrounding the windows, as well as poorly performing fire doors that failed to self-close, allowing fire and smoke to spread.