Movies

Netflix’s Grenfell: The Shocking Truths They Didn’t Want You to Know

BBG News

On the morning of June 14, 2017, inhabitants of Grenfell Tower were taken aback by a devastating fire that later became known worldwide as a symbol of negligence and injustice. The blaze started as a minor kitchen fire within a 24-story apartment building in North Kensington, London. Tragically, the flames rapidly spread across the exterior, leading to the loss of 72 lives.

In the documentary titled “Grenfell: Uncovered“, which will be released on Netflix on June 20th, the harrowing events of the past are revisited. This film provides a platform for the victims, sheds light on the inner workings of the investigation, and uncovers how corporate interests and government shortcomings played a role in the catastrophe. However, let’s delve into what transpired that fateful night and its aftermath.

How did the Grenfell Tower fire start?

The blaze started in Apartment 16, located on the fourth level. Resident Behailu Kebede was roused by the smoke detector and spotted flames close to his refrigerator and freezer, which had ignited. Without delay, he dialed the fire department at 12:54 a.m., and the initial response teams reached the building within five minutes.

At approximately 1:07 a.m., the first firefighters ventured into the apartment. Upon entering, they quickly searched the residence but didn’t make it to the kitchen until seven minutes after their arrival. As one firefighter described, a wall of fire was ascending towards the ceiling. The fire team’s thermal images indicated that flames and gases were already seeping through the kitchen window, which was situated near the refrigerator. From 1:09 a.m., the blaze started to burst through the building’s exterior—signaling the commencement of its rapid, tragic spread.

In just half an hour after the firefighters’ arrival, the flames scaled the eastern part of the tower and spread to the uppermost floor. By 4:30 in the morning, the entire structure was engulfed in flames, with over a hundred apartments being impacted.

Why did the fire spread so quickly?

It was primarily due to several structural and aesthetic issues that the fire at Grenfell Tower spread rapidly and catastrophically. The main culprit was the exterior covering added during a 2016 renovation, which consisted of aluminum composite panels (ACMs). These panels had a polyethylene core, a highly flammable plastic material, that releases tremendous heat upon burning, essentially turning into fuel for the fire.

Furthermore, the thermal insulation placed beneath the exterior covering, composed of polyurethane foam, was similarly combustible and facilitated the spread of the fire. Similarly, during renovations, flammable substances were utilized for the windows, enabling the fire to move from one floor to another via gaps in the structures.

Experts from the show “Grenfell: Uncovered” point out that the aluminum composite material cladding, which contains a polyethylene core, had previously been identified as hazardous due to its quick burning, intense heat production, and significant smoke emission during fire tests. Remarkably, these concerning test results were concealed by companies such as Arconic, the manufacturer of the material used in Grenfell Tower.

The failure of the emergency plan

Similar to numerous homes in the United Kingdom, Grenfell Tower adhered to a fire safety strategy called “remain in place.” This approach suggested that during a fire, inhabitants should stay within their apartments, relying on the building’s construction to prevent the fire from spreading.

That fateful night, my heart ached as the emergency plan crumbled disastrously before our eyes. By 1:26 a.m., barely half an hour after the fire department’s arrival, it became glaringly apparent that the situation was spiraling out of control. In a panicked flurry, some of us scrambled to the apartments on higher floors, seeking refuge with neighbors, while others were left with no choice but to leap from the burning building. Ignoring the official guidance, many of us made a hasty descent down the stairwell, desperate for salvation.

Despite the evacuation order not being issued until 2:47 a.m., Richard Millett QC, who heads the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, noted in a June 4, 2018 hearing that 144 residents had already vacated the building prior to 1:38 a.m. Afterward, when the “stay put” advice was eventually rescinded, just 36 more people were able to make it out safely.

The role of the government in the tragedy

In the Grenfell Tower fire, both corporate negligence and insufficient government oversight were significant contributors. Shockingly, a material used for cladding was already prohibited in countries such as the U.S. because of its flammability. However, in the UK, this same material remained legal, primarily because of decades of easing construction industry regulations.

Implemented policies tended to relax safety regulations, prioritizing cost reduction and operational efficiency over safety concerns. This relaxation led to a gap in regulation, allowing potentially hazardous materials to be accepted and utilized without proper scrutiny.

As a film buff diving deeper into the events surrounding Grenfell Tower, it’s chilling to uncover evidence that those in charge—the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO)—knew about the potential hazards. It’s heart-wrenching to learn that, in a bid to save money during the tower’s renovation, they opted for the less expensive, riskier cladding over safer options such as zinc.

For quite some time, residents had voiced safety apprehensions. Over half a year before the fire incident, a local housing association had penned an open letter highlighting potential fire hazards. Regrettably, their pleas fell on deaf ears. The 2009 Lakanal House fire, which tragically claimed six lives and involved flammable insulation material, could have been a turning point. However, the authorities failed to heed the warning yet again.

The investigation and the pursuit of justice

Following the fire, a comprehensive public investigation was initiated. Known as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, this investigation aimed to uncover the causes and was broken down into two parts. The first part started in September 2017 and ended in October 2019, concentrating on the events of that fateful night through eyewitness accounts. The second part, commencing in January 2020, delved into more wide-ranging structural concerns, such as renovation decisions made at the building and the roles of companies providing flammable materials.

On September 4, 2024, after years of thorough investigations, the final report was released, shedding light on the tragic incident that occurred. The findings pointed fingers at multiple parties, primarily the government, the construction industry, and the companies responsible for installing flammable exterior cladding on the building. It was revealed that this cladding fell short of fire safety standards and played a crucial role in the rapid spread of the devastating blaze.

The report also criticized the London Fire Brigade for their delayed shift from “stay put” advice to a full evacuation command, an action that undeniably hampered rescue operations. In total, 58 recommendations were presented, with updates to building regulations being among them. As a movie lover who witnessed this event on the silver screen, I can’t help but hope for meaningful changes based on these findings.

As a movie buff putting things into my own words, I’d say: After wrapping up the investigation, it falls upon the police to scrutinize possible criminal offenses and pass them on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration. However, given the intricacy of the evidence collected, it’s been made clear that any potential charges may not be brought before the year 2026 draws to a close.

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2025-06-21 02:06

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