On Monday 18 February, Channel 4 Dispatches will air a programme titled;
“Grenfell: Did the Fire Brigade Fail?”
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has not yet seen the programme, but understands that it will be highly critical of the London Fire Brigade’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Ahead of the programme’s broadcast, Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“Firefighters risked their lives that night to save others, and were placed in an utterly impossible situation because of the failure of the building. Before any firefighter arrived, before any 999 calls were made, the building was a potential death trap. The building was wrapped in flammable cladding which caused the fire to spread at an unprecedented, and rapid rate.
“We have longstanding criticisms of fire and rescue policy in the UK, and have in the past made many criticisms of individual fire and rescue services, including the London Fire Brigade. The FBU has made urgent recommendations for a review of the ‘stay put’ policy, but we are clear that this is a national matter which government should initiate. The government has been too slow to respond, both in terms of unsafe building materials and reviewing national fire and rescue policy.”
Grenfell Action Group 