The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162277 Message #3862071
Posted By: Senoufou
21-Jun-17 - 03:57 AM
Thread Name: Horrendous tower-block fire in W London
Subject: RE: Horrendous tower-block fire in W London
I also think that the day-to-day management of these communal dwellings should be far tighter and better controlled and monitored. For example, the emergency lighting system wasn't working due to the fact that the batteries had expired (!!), a fact which the residents' committee had tried to bring to the attention of the managers, to no avail. So in the event of the mains power being cut off, the corridors would have been pitch black.
There was much rubbish and unwanted items in the stairwell and corridors, which obstructed egress and presented a combustible danger. This should have been continually addressed.
And (as happens all over big cities where accommodation is at a premium, and is deplorable) unscrupulous tenants were sub-letting their residences at extortionate rates, and in overcrowded and unsuitable conditions. This meant that the actual number of residents was unknown.
I always foolishly imagined that large residential buildings were inspected by a representative of the Fire Service at least annually, and any dangers/shortcomings rectified under enforcement. And that fire drills occurred regularly. If this wasn't the case, then it jolly well should have been.