Fires break out in London and Glasgow a year after Grenfell tragedy

On the anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, two fires broke out in residential tower blocks in South London and Glasgow. Once again, these incidents show how easily fire can start within residential blocks and the impact they can have on the occupants. 

The first fire occurred on the 12th floor of a residential tower block in Lewisham, South London, at 4:14am, where 180 people fled their homes. Up to 60 firefighters and 8 fire engines arrived at the scene to tackle the blaze. A sprinkler system was able to suppress the fire and the London Fire Brigade had the flames under control at 6:02am. Residents complained of the lack of fire alarms and said that it wasn’t until others alerted them or they saw the smoke for themselves that led them to evacuate the building. Residents also reported that people were ignoring the “stay-put” policy when they awoke to news of the fire.

Just a few hours later, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 7:58am to reports of a fire at a block of flats in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. It is believed that the fire started in a kitchen on the 14th floor. About 30 apartments were evacuated and 8 people were sent to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. To read the full article, click here.

The recent fires further highlight the need for effective fire safety regulations and educating residents on the correct procedures to adopt in the event of a fire.