Tower disaster like Blitz
GRENFELL tower has highlighted the terror of fire with the worst disaster since the Second World War.
Many will be sitting in flats in tower blocks while reading this and wondering if their cladding, sprinkler systems and fire exits are up to the job.
The death toll at Grenfell may never be certain and similar problems faced emergency services during the Blitz.
Everyone had to muck in, sifting through the rubble without ‘health and safety’ and there were many volunteers.
The spirit on the streets was heart-warming and heart-breaking.
Most of Stockport’s towers were built in the 1960s to replace ‘slum clearance’ housing of terraced streets (which would now be upgraded in an ‘envelope’ scheme), notably in Portwood and Hillgate.
The most prominent high-rise blocks were built at Mottram Street off Hillgate, on Dodge Hill, Heaton Norris and Lancashire Hill, with more towers at Brinnington on a greenfield site.
In a disaster context, the number of fatalities in Greater Manchester’s Blitz were enormous – about 1,428 with many more injured.
Stockport and district got off lightly with 25 dead, but there was a comparatively heavy toll among emergency services.
Three Stockport firemen died – two in mill fires at Vernon Mill, Portwood and Wellington Mill, Hazel Grove.
Another died of his injuries after the war.
Two ARP wardens were killed, one in a direct hit on a shelter in Davenport.
Two fire-watchers also died, one from a shrapnel wound which tore a hole in his side.
ARP wardens and fire-watchers were public spirited volunteers and many firemen had daytime jobs as well.
Now we have to face the truth that many technical achievements have raced ahead of the means of making them safe.
Fire hoses don’t reach the tops of tower blocks, electric lighting and water supply fails when the power goes, mobile phones don’t always work.
Councils and private companies who run social housing have to be held to account and get up to date. There is no panacea. You can’t fly by the seat of your pants forever.
It is inspiring to see the old community spirit still alive and people spontaneously doing so much to help, setting an example for the authorities to try to emulate. They need to have a proper rethink about fire safety and many other things. »»More food for thought in the Summer issue of Stockport Heritage Magazine out this week in Newsagents, WH Smith, Waterstones, Co-op magazine shelves and online at www.stockportheritagemagazine.co.uk