Tower blocks facing fire ‘postcode lottery’
Post-Grenfell review of ‘greatly different’ service responses across UK is urgently needed, says FBU
THE ability of firemen to respond to a blaze in a tower block is a “postcode lottery” that could leave residents exposed, according to research following the Grenfell Tower fire.
Differing resources across the UK means that a different number of vehi- cles and appliances will be sent to similar emergencies, the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) says. There are 125 aerial ladder/platform vehicles, which have long ladders or platforms to reach fires in high buildings, in England – but only 33 of them are available round-theclock because there is a lack of fire crews, the union’s research states.
London Fire Brigade failed to dispatch a high “aerial” ladder immediately to the west London blaze because it was not included in the service’s “predetermined attendance” plan. Instead, it took more than 30 minutes for a high ladder to arrive. London Fire Brigade is one of several services that has changed its procedures since Grenfell Tower and will now automatically send high ladders to tower block fires.
Research from the FBU shows that location and resources are key to how firemen can respond to an emergency and the pre-determined attendance (PDA) plan which can be triggered.
This relates to the numbers of fire engines that should automatically be sent. Kent, Humberside and Nottinghamshire have just three PDA fire engines and no aerial platforms while Hampshire has a PDA of eight fire engines and an aerial vehicle. The FBU also states that the size of a fire crew can also vary per engine.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “We find it staggering that nothing has been done to address this grossly unjust postcode lottery of resources, it is a disgrace.
“They now need to urgently instruct fire services to improve their fire and rescue planning. Citizens everywhere need to feel confident that those in authority are taking their safety seriously. Anything less is, frankly, obscene.
“An aerial appliance applying large quantities of water to the outside of the building [Grenfell Tower] could have made a big difference. It clearly did make a difference when it arrived.”
The FBU had hoped that a review of greatly differing standards and approaches adopted by various fire and rescue services across the country would have been set up.
Mr Wrack, in a letter written to the Prime Minister yesterday, said: “This appears not to have been done, which causes us concern and alarm.”
The Home Office said: “It is the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority to manage their resources across prevention, protection and operational response to meet local risk.”