Grenfell group hits out at ‘painfully slow’ removal of dangerous cladding after Dagenham fire

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Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have said work to remove dangerous cladding from buildings has been “painfully slow” after a huge fire at a tower block in east London with “non-compliant cladding”.
More than 80 people were evacuated and two taken to hospital after the blaze at the building in Dagenham in the early hours of Monday morning, London Fire Brigade said.
LFB said it was called to the blaze in Freshwater Road at about 2.45am. Twenty people were rescued in a “significant search and rescue operation” as 45 engines and around 225 firefighters responded to the incident.
Later on Monday, a fire broke out in a 45-storey building in Blackwall, also in east London. There were no reported injuries.
Grenfell United, which represents survivors of the 2017 tragedy, said there had been a “lack of urgency” about building safety. It comes ahead of the release this week of the final report into the disaster, in which 72 people died.
Grenfell United said in a statement: “Although we do not have all the details, it seems work was under way to remove ‘non-compliant’ cladding, and the building had a number of safety issues.
“This highlights the painfully slow process of remediation across the country, and a lack of urgency for building safety as a whole, including the implementation of personal evacuation plans for disabled residents which needs urgently addressing.
“We are a week away from the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report. The fact that when a fire happens, and the best we can hope for at the moment is a ‘near miss’, speaks volumes of the progress made since 14th June 2017.”
The Dagenham property was undergoing “remedial” work to remove and replace “non-compliant cladding” on the fifth and sixth floors containing flats, according to a planning application document.
The FBU said the incident exposed the “national scandal of flammable cladding and deregulation in the building industry”.
An investigation has begun, during which questions about the role of cladding will “form part” of the probe, Patrick Goulbourne, the LFB’s Assistant Commissioner, said.
Asked by reporters at the scene how big a part cladding had played in the fire, and how close the incident was to “a bigger disaster”, Mr Goulbourne said: “What I wouldn’t want to do is pre-empt an investigation.
“This was a very, very dynamic incident, and clearly it’s going to require a very complex investigation, not only to get to its cause, but to get to an understanding of the fire spread – so it’s it’s too early at this time to be able to give any detail on that, but that will form part of our investigation in the coming days.”
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade.
“A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out, and a significant search and rescue operation took place. I am pleased to confirm that everyone has been accounted for.
A resident of the building said the incident felt like “a nightmare” and that she felt “frightened to be on the street starting from zero”. Irina Vasile, a 46-year-old healthcare assistant who lived on the second floor, said she was woken by her partner at about 3am, telling her there was smoke.
Speaking outside the Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, where residents have been relocated, she told reporters: “[There was] such a dense smoke all over the apartment. When we wanted to open the window, another smoke hit our face, on the throat and the eyes.”
Ms Vasile said she was spotted by firefighters after shouting for help and calling 999, adding that she did not hear a fire alarm go off during the evacuation. 
She said: “We didn’t grab nothing – we lost everything. The firemen brought us outside, and while I came outside, I’ve seen a big fire come from the building on the ground floor, and when we went further, I’ve seen another big fire on the top.
“My partner is devastated as well. We try to encourage one another because we lost everything. We are scared, frightened to be on the street starting from zero.”
Another resident described the incident as “very terrible” and said he was coughing up “black” from the smoke.
Sam Ogbeide, who lives on the fourth floor, told reporters: “I opened my main door, smoke was coming in from the window – I live at the back. I saw it [the fire]. Very terrible, very terrible.
“I’ve never experienced something like this in my life. Everything is gone. I don’t know what to do. I’m not feeling OK. All my mouth is bitter because I feel the smoke in me. When I cough, you see the black.”
Mr Ogbeide later told the Press Association news agency he did not see any water sprinklers in the building, but did hear a fire alarm.
Another witness living near the building said he heard people screaming as the incident unfolded, telling PA: “When I woke up, I saw the fire engines, the helicopters and obviously the smoke everywhere. People were screaming.”
In a statement on Monday, Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, criticised MPs for putting the “interests of big business above human life” by repeatedly ignoring warnings related to “deregulation in the building sector” and building cladding.
He said: “Hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in buildings like it, with various failings in fire safety. This is a national scandal.
“For decades, the FBU has warned of the risks of deregulation in the building sector. Politicians have put the interests of big business above human life. As we saw at Grenfell Tower, this can have horrific and tragic consequences. Time and time again, these warnings have been ignored by public authorities and by central government.”
The British Red Cross said a team of the charity’s volunteers was providing “emotional support” to evacuated residents at a local rest centre.
New drones were deployed to tackle the blaze, along with turntable ladders that were used as vantage points to assess the scene and to douse the flames with water from above. A major incident was declared by the LFB, which was stood down at 11.03am. Crews will remain at the scene on Tuesday.
The LFB originally stated that more than 100 people had been evacuated, but later updated that figure to more than 80.
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London Fire Brigade Assistant Fire Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said they were looking into the building’s history, including cladding, as part of the investigation into the fire.
He said the fire was no longer considered a major incident and had been brought under control.
He said 80 residents had been evacuated including 20 who had been rescued from the building.
Mr Goulbourne said: “I’m pleased to say everyone is accounted for.”
Four residents had been treated at the scene, with two residents taken to hospital for treatment.
He added: “The fire is now under control. We will now begin a full investigation. This was a very dynamic incident.”
He would not confirm the fire started on the ground floor, as claimed by some residents, and that cladding on the outside of the building helped spread the flames to other floors.
There had also been earlier “fire safety issues” with the building and cladding in the process of being removed. 
“It’s too early to tell,” he said. “We are looking into the history of the building.”
Assistant Commissioner Goulbourne would also not comment on conflicting reports about whether the fire alarm system was working.
“The state of the fire alarm is part of the investigation,” he said.
Everyone has been accounted for following a fire at a block of flats in Dagenham, London Fire Brigade said during a press conference.
Andy Roe, London Fire Commissioner, said: “I am pleased to confirm that everyone has been accounted for. More than 80 people were evacuated with firefighters leading residents out to safety and carrying out 10 rescues including using fire escape hoods, which can provide 15 minutes of clean, filtered air in smoke-filled environments, helping individuals stay safe until they can be rescued or reach safety.
“Four people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews, with two taken to hospital.”
He added: “I am immensely grateful to the crews and officers who have operated in the most dangerous conditions to both rescue people and bring the incident under control despite being faced with a significant building failure.”
Mr Roe said: “We will now begin a full investigation into the fire and its cause. This was a very dynamic and challenging incident, and we know there will undoubtedly be concerns around the fire safety issues present within the building and this will form part of our report.
“Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected and we will remain present in the local community throughout the coming days to provide support where needed.”
Sadiq Khan has said the major incident regarding the fire in Dagenham has been stood down and thanked the emergency services who worked “tirelessly” through the night.
In a post on X, the Mayor of London wrote: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the fire in Dagenham overnight, and I remain in close contact with the @LondonFire Commissioner and emergency services who worked tirelessly through the night to gain control of the fire.
“A major incident was declared which has now been stood down.
“A rest centre has been set up in the area to support residents, and I urge people in the area to follow LFB’s advice to keep windows and doors closed, and for people to avoid the area where possible.”
One described the incident as “very terrible” and said he was coughing up “black” from the smoke.
Sam Ogbeide, who lives on the fourth floor, told reporters: “I opened my main door, smoke was coming in from the window – I live at the back. I saw it (the fire). Very terrible, very terrible.
Mr Ogbeide said it was very busy in the building’s stairwell with fellow residents who “didn’t bring anything” when evacuating, with some still “naked”.
He said: “I’ve never experienced something like this in my life. Everything is gone. I don’t know what to do.”
Asked if he felt OK, the resident added: “I’m not feeling OK. All my mouth is bitter because I feel the smoke in me.
“When I cough, you see the black.”
The resident later told the PA news agency he did not see any water sprinklers in the building, but did hear a fire alarm.
A resident living near the building which caught fire in Dagenham said he heard people “screaming” as the incident unfolded.
Ahmed, 44, of Kemp Road, which is a few hundred yards from the property, told the PA news agency: “When I woke up, I saw the fire engines, the helicopters and obviously the smoke everywhere. People were screaming.”
Another resident said he was woken by the smell of smoke as the fire spread throughout his building. 
Sam Ogbeide now fears all of his belongings will have been destroyed in the blaze.
Wearing green pyjama bottoms and red socks with no shoes, he told The Telegraph: “I have never experienced anything like this in my life.
“I know everything will be 100 per cent destroyed.”
He added: “I was asleep and saw smoke coming through my window.”
A resident has told of how his family was woken by banging on their front door in the early hours of the morning as a fire engulfed their building. 
Monty Singh, his pregnant wife and two children, aged three and eight, then rushed outside to escape the smoke.
He claimed the fire had started on the ground floor of the tower block where there was a childcare centre.
“The children were very worried and panicked,” Mr Singh told the Telegraph.
“A woman on the first floor had smelled smoke and was then running around banging on doors to get people out.”
Mr Singh and his family have lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the building for the past six years.
For the moment he and his family are at the Beacontree Leisure Centre where the rest of the 100 evacuated residents were taken at 6am this morning. 
“We don’t know when we are going to get back in. I just hope our stuff is ok,” he said.
Smoke was still billowing from the top floor of the six-storey flats in Dagenham which was engulfed in flames overnight.
Dozens of fire crews filled up their tankers from nearby hydrants in surrounding streets before returning to the blaze on Freshwater Street which started in the early hours of this morning.
More than 100 residents were evacuated and have been taken to Beacontree Health Leisure Centre. 
A local ambulance officer said there was no update on the four residents taken to hospital.
Here is a recap of what has happened so far:
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, thanked firefighters and other emergency workers for their “bravery and swift response” to the Dagenham fire.
She said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the major fire incident in Dagenham.
“I thank London Fire Brigade and all emergency services on the ground for their bravery and swift response.”
She said ministers were being kept updated on the incident.
A view of the damage at the high rise building in Freshwater Road which was undergoing works to remove ‘unsafe cladding’. 
Drone footage shows the tower on fire, as firefighters try to extinguish the flames.
Work had been underway to remove “non-compliant cladding” from the building, called Spectrum House.Valcan, a company in architectural cladding systems, said in a Facebook post on August 19: “We recently popped over to Dagenham to see the progress on Spectrum House. This project consists of remedial work to external cladding to the fifth and sixth floors, removing the non-compliant cladding.”
 
More than 100 people have been evacuated and two taken to hospital after a fire broke out in the building in East London. The London Fire Brigade said they are carrying out a “significant search and rescue operation” after being called to the blaze on Freshwater Road at 2.44am on Monday.
Commissioner Andy Roe from the London Fire Brigade said: “The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes. An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes. To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we have declared a major incident.  
“The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade. A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way.  
“The Brigade’s control officers have taken 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people using our fire survival guidance app. We are also using new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre turntable ladders and 32-metre turntable ladders to provide incident commanders with a vantage point for assessing the scene. They are also being used as water towers to deliver water on to the fire from above.”
London Fire Brigade has declared a “major incident” amid an ongoing “significant search and rescue operation”.
Commissioner Andy Roe said: “We were called to the incident at 02.44 this morning.  
“The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes. An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes. To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we have declared a major incident.  
“The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade. A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way.  
“The Brigade’s control officers have taken 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people using our fire survival guidance app, which allows information to be exchanged between control and the incident ground in a timely, accurate and consistent manner.  
“We are also using new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre turntable ladders and 32-metre turntable ladders to provide incident commanders with a vantage point for assessing the scene. They are also being used as water towers to deliver water on to the fire from above.
“The brigade has stood up full strategic arrangements to deal with the incident and a rest centre has been set up at Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre. LFB officers are stationed at the rest centre to support residents.”
A father whose daughter was at a sleepover in the building was alerted to the fire at 3am.
Dinesh Raj told Sky News: “I got a call around 3am, so I came and picked them up.
 “I managed to take my daughter and my friends to my home. They’re all safe.
“I think they started smelling smoke around 3am, and learned there was a fire.
“They had a six-month-old baby as well, so they managed to grab the baby and my daughter and get out the building.
“I think the majority [of residents] managed to step out before the fire started spreading.
“But everything they have is back in the building and we have no clue what happened.”
Grenfell United, a group of survivors and bereaved families from the Grenfell Tower disaster, posted on X:
Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the fire in Dagenham this morning, we hope all residents are safe and adequately cared for by the authorities 💚
A report covering the second phase of the Grenfell Tower inquiry is due to be published next week.
Barking and Dagenham Council said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We’re aware of the fire on Freshwater Road and we’re supporting the London Fire Brigade and Police. 
“All roads in the surrounding area are closed and due to the smoke, we urge you to keep your windows and doors closed.”
The “terrible scenes” as a fire engulfed a building in Dagenham, east London had resulted in only “minimal” injuries owing to the swift response of the emergency services, the local MP said.
Dagenham and Rainham’s Labour MP Margaret Mullane said on X: “Terrible scenes in Dagenham this morning as @LondonFire tackle the blaze at Freshwater Rd.
“Thanks to their rapid response injury was minimal. I will be visiting the rescue centre today to see what help and support I can offer the residents and businesses who have lost everything.”