Safety policy came under attack

London Fire Brigade has been criticised before over its “stay put” advice.

An inquest into the Lakanal House blaze at a block of flats in Camberwell in 2009, found that people had been told by 999 operators to remain, when a possible escape route had been available. Three women and three children died. The fire was caused by unsafe renovation work and inspection failings.

Southwark council was fined £270,000 but the fire service’s response was criticised and, it was said, may have added to the death toll.

Five years later, LFB launched a fire safety drive for residents in flats.