‘I couldn’t tell residents to stay in Grenfell’

A 999 OPERATOR who answered calls from residents trapped in Grenfell Tower has told an inquiry she was reluctant to relay the fire service’s “stay-put” advice to them.

Angie Gotts, a control room operator, was based in the fire brigade’s communication hub in Stratford, East London, on the night of the fire in June 2017.

She took around 80 calls from in or around the west London block, including from many who required rescuing.

She said in a statement to the Grenfell Tower inquiry yesterday that she had been reluctant to advise tenants to remain inside a burning building since the deadly Lakanal House fire in 2009.

“The fallout from it has had a profound effect on me,” she wrote of the Southwark blaze.

“A friend of mine was blamed for the

‘I will tell the caller what I can and pass all of their details to the firefighters, but I will not tell them to stay.’

advice she gave to a resident and the advice she gave her was exactly what she was supposed to have done… the blame was all put on her.

“Since then I have not been comfortable with telling people to stay put in their flats. I will tell the caller what I can and I will certainly pass all of their details (flat number, floor number, number of people and location) to the firefighters, but I will not tell them to stay.”

Her actions came under scrutiny as it emerged she also offered false hope to doomed families.

The 37-year veteran of the London Fire Brigade conceded that, due to the volume of calls, she at times provided unfounded assurances.

Transcripts showed her telling residents that firefighters were putting out the blaze and travelling to their aid, but also that audacious rescue attempts via helicopters might be possible.

The inquiry continues.