Grenfell commander defends ‘stay-put’ advice

THE fireman in charge of tackling the Grenfell inferno has defended the controversial “stay-put” advice for the first time, arguing it would have been “impossible” to evacuate the tower block.

Michael Dowden, a watch manager, agreed that someone more senior should have been in charge and admitted that he could not recall considering abandoning the policy or ordering an evacuation because he was “consumed” by events and suffering “sensory overload”.

But Mr Dowden, who was the incident commander for the first hour, insisted that in hindsight, even at 1.24am, just two minutes before the flames reached the top floor and the point experts say that the stay-put policy had failed, he did not have the resources to evacuate.

He broke down in tears and had to take a break from the public inquiry after video footage was played showing flames spreading up the side of the block as members of the public cried: “Get out of the tower”.

The stay-put policy was not abandoned until 2.47am, a decision which some survivors say cost the lives of their family members.

Mr Dowden will continue his evidence today.