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Seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives, the final report from the public inquiry into the tragedy has been released today. The extensive 1,700-page document details the causes of the disaster and outlines measures to prevent a similar event in the future.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of June 14, 2017, devastated the 24-storey block in Kensington, west London. The inquiry’s findings, combined with harrowing witness statements from firefighters and residents, paint a vivid picture of the night the fire tore through the building.
The Night of the Fire: A Timeline of Tragedy
00:50 AM:
The fire started in Flat 16 on the fourth floor of Grenfell Tower when a fridge freezer malfunctioned. Uber driver Behailu Kebede, who lived in the flat, was awakened by thick smoke and immediately called 999. He fled the building, leaving behind the home he had lived in for 25 years.
00:59 AM:
Four fire engines arrived at the scene, initially expecting to handle a routine incident. Watch Manager Michael Dowden assumed command, directing the operation from the ground floor. Firefighters entered the building, unaware that this fire would soon become one of the deadliest in modern British history.
01:09 AM:
Firefighters Charles Batterbee and Daniel Brown entered Flat 16, where they found the kitchen engulfed in flames. Despite the intense heat, they managed to contain the fire within the flat, believing they had controlled the situation.
01:15 AM:
On the 22nd floor, Naomi Li and her cousin Lydia noticed an orange glow reflected in a building opposite and called 999. Despite the operator’s reassurance that they were safe due to the fire being on the fourth floor, Naomi and Lydia became increasingly concerned as they noticed the smell of burning plastic.
01:21 AM:
The fire spread outside of Flat 16, climbing the building’s exterior cladding, which was later found to be highly combustible. Flames rapidly ascended the tower’s east side, with window frames and extractor fans igniting in multiple flats.
01:26 AM:
Fire Brigade Control was inundated with calls from panicked residents. Melanie Ramirez, desperate to save her 12-year-old sister Jessica, asked firefighter David Badillo to help. Badillo attempted to reach Jessica but was forced to turn back due to the intense smoke.
01:30 AM:
Edward Daffarn, a resident on the 16th floor, struggled to find his way out of his smoke-filled corridor. Fortunately, firefighter Jamal Stern found him and guided him to safety.
01:48 AM:
Badillo and his colleague, Chris Secrett, searched Jessica’s flat but could not find her. Unbeknownst to them, Jessica had moved with a group of residents to a flat on the 23rd floor, where she called 999 again, begging for help as smoke filled the room.
02:00 AM:
Jessica’s breathing became laboured as the fire continued to spread. Despite the efforts of the emergency operator, the young girl fell silent, and minutes later, the line went dead. Jessica was among the 24 people whose bodies were later recovered from the 23rd floor.
The Aftermath and Inquiry Findings
By dawn, most of Grenfell Tower was engulfed in flames, and emergency services were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. The inquiry has since revealed that the building’s cladding was the primary cause of the rapid-fire spread, with numerous safety failures contributing to the tragedy.
The final report, released today, highlights the systemic issues that led to the disaster and provides recommendations to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Among the findings are significant criticisms of the building’s refurbishment, the failure to enforce safety regulations, and the inadequacies of the emergency response.
As the nation reflects on the horror of that night, the inquiry’s report serves as a stark reminder of the lives lost and the importance of holding those responsible to account. The ongoing police investigation continues to probe the actions of 19 companies and 58 individuals involved in the building’s refurbishment, with potential charges expected in the coming years.
