Grenfell: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue release statement following damning report

Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said "too many residents" are still living in buildings covered in unsafe cladding

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 4th Sep 2024
Last updated 4th Sep 2024

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have released a statement following a damning report into the Grenfell Tower fire.

The devastating blaze killed 72 people in London in 2017 - and was covered in combustible products.

An inquiry has found it was because of "systematic dishonesty" of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation.

It also highlighted "decades of failure" by Government to act.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue has now released a statement, saying "too many residents" in the city are still living in buildings covered in unsafe cladding.

Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said it would "take some time" to consider the report's full findings.

But he added that GMFRS had already implemented new training for firefighters and carries out "large-scale training exercises" following the disaster.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the report identified "substantial and widespread failings", adding that the Government will carefully consider its recommendations "to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again".

The seven-volume and near-1,700 page final report of the inquiry into the disaster laid out in damning detail how those in positions of responsibility had not heeded or acted on warnings from earlier fires.

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