QUICK, QUICK! IT’S BURNING – THE FIRST DESPERATE 999 CALL

A TERRIFIED 999 caller begged firefighters to race to Grenfell Tower, saying: ‘Quick, quick, quick! It’s burning.’

Behailu Kebede raised the alarm after he woke to find a fire in his fourth-floor kitchen.

He woke neighbours, called 999 and told the operator in a panicked voice: ‘Come quick, please.’

This is a transcript of the one minute 40 second call.

999 OPERATOR: Fire brigade. Mr

KEBEDE: Yes, hello, there’s a fire... Flat 16, Grenfell Tower.

999: Sorry, a fire where?

Kebede: Flat 16, Grenfell Tower.

999: What’s the postcode?

Kebede: W11 1TG. Come quick, please.

999: I have to get the address.

Kebede: Flat 16, Grenfell Tower, W11 1TG.

999: The fire brigade are on their way. Are you outside?

Kebede: Yes, I’m outside. 999: The fire engines are on their way. How many floors have you got there?

Kebede: It’s the fourth floor. Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick! It’s burning.

999: Yes, I know it’s burning but they’re on their way already. You have only just called. As long as you’re ok?

Kebede: Come quick. 999: Yes. You wait outside.

Kebede: I’m outside. 999: The fire engines are on the way. They will be there soon. You have only just called us. It will take a minute.

Kebede: [indecipherable] 999: Hello? Can I let you go? You’re outside?

Kebede: Yes I’m outside. 999: Bye.