Evacuation plans drawn up for 1,300 London buildings over fears of Grenfell level fires

DAGENHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Fire teams attempt to extinguish a major fire in an apartment block on August 26, 2024 in Dagenham, England. Over 100 residents have been evacuated after a fire engulfed a tower block in east London. Fire services were called to the blaze at 2:44 this morning. The building was undergoing works to remove unsafe cladding, similar to that used on Grenfell Tower. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images/Leon Neal)


Sadiq Khan has said he and the Government aims to 'speed up' the process of removing dangerous cladding from London's buildings as 1,300 currently have a temporary evacuation strategy due to 'serious fire safety failings'. The Mayor of London also told the London Assembly on Thursday, September 12, that another disaster like the Grenfell Fire is 'possible'.

Mr Khan said: "This is a picture where things haven't improved much since 2017, which is why, I'm afraid, it's still possible for there to be further tragedy more than seven years on." The mayor also said that families are still waiting to be rehoused after a fire at a housing block in Dagenham on August 26.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB), he detailed, did not issue the 'stay put' advice that was given out during the Grenfell blaze in 2017. "The LFB," Mr Khan told the London Assembly, "quickly realised that the built environment wasn't one that was secure, and so there was an immediate simultaneous evacuation.

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Grenfell Tower in West London
Grenfell Tower in West London, where a fire killed 72 people in 2017 -Credit:HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

"So the stay put advice wasn't appropriate in that building. The evacuation took place relatively successfully." The mayor added that emergency responders deployed tall ladders and used escape hoods funded by City Hall.

It comes after LFB commissioner Andy Roe told a City Hall meeting on Tuesday, September 10, that while 'very important' changes have been made to safety regulations, there is still a need for more 'teeth' for those enforcing the rules, and greater 'alignment' between authorities. Mr Roe said: "It’s not good enough yet."

He pointed out that the building where the Dagenham blaze happened is only seven floors high, with the LFB aware of the identity of the managing agent and building owner are. The property's cladding was also in the process of being removed ahead of the fire.

Are you worried about fire safety at your building? If so, email adam.toms@reachplc.com

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