Tower blaze teaches us a costly lesson

The loss of life following this month’s fatal fire at a tower block in London was utterly devastating.

Quite understandably, emotions have run high ever since the blaze.

The clamour for answers has, at times, reached cacophonous levels.

What is now emerging is a picture of a tragedy that could have all too easily been repeated elsewhere.

Dozens of tower blocks were apparently clad with the same, highly combustible, material.

Again, this is leading to very troubling questions for the authorities – and to a spate of evacuations.

What to do with so many displaced people is clearly problematic. The inconvenience is enormous, yet the potential consequences of failing to act have been spelt out all too clearly.

What happened at Grenfell is a terrifying, horrific wakeup call.

Checks are to take place across Scotland as the inquiry widens.

The findings thus far – certainly south of the border – are far from enouraging but at least lessons are apparently being learnt.

We may now have some confidence that prompt action is being taken to ensure there is no repeat of the tragedy – though that will bring little comfort to the nearest and dearest of those who paid the ultimate price for that lesson.