Police quiz fire chiefs in Grenfell disaster inquiry

FIRE chiefs have been interviewed under caution by police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire, it emerged yesterday.

London Fire Brigade said it had been questioned as a corporate body over possible breaches of health and safety regulations.

The service has faced widespread criticism for its controversial ‘stay put’ policy, which meant residents were told to remain inside their flats and wait for rescue as the inferno raged.

Fire bosses have defended the stance, saying a mass evacuation of the 24-storey block in June 2017 would have risked even more lives.

It is thought that up to 55 of the 72 people who died were told to stay in flats for almost two hours after the first 999 call, despite flames spreading with

‘The survivors need answers’

terrifying speed through flammable cladding.

Many survivors and bereaved families believe all the residents of the tower, in North Kensington, London, could have survived if told to evacuate earlier.

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said she recognised that survivors and the bereaved ‘need answers’, adding: ‘We have always been subject to the Metropolitan Police investigation and I want to ensure it is accurately and publicly known the brigade has now, voluntarily, given an interview under caution in relation to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

‘As the fire and rescue service attending the Grenfell Tower fire, it is entirely correct that we are part of the investigation.’

The Metropolitan Police revealed yesterday that it has carried out 17 interviews under caution in connection with the criminal investigation into the fire.

The force would not reveal who the interviews were with.