Seven years after the deadly fire at Grenfell, we continue to support the entire community in their struggle for justice.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council raised the Grenfell flag outside its Hammersmith office on Friday (14 June).
The flag is a mark of remembrance, compassion and solidarity on the anniversary of the devastating fire that killed 72 residents at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in North Kensington in 2017.
We will always stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone who has suffered as a result of this tragedy. The final findings from the public inquiry into the Grenfell blaze are still awaited.
Supporting survivors
After the fire, H&F Council supported more than 50 families in temporary accommodation in the borough. More than 70 people were injured, with 223 residents escaping from the burning building.
Teams from our housing and social care departments visited the families each week, making sure they had vouchers for hot meals, travelcards and that they were receiving the support they needed – and in some cases family members, friends and neighbours.
We also welcomed The Kensington Aldridge Academy, formerly based at the foot of Grenfell Tower, as it relocated temporarily to a site next to Wormwood Scrubs.
Fire safety in H&F
Since the Grenfell blaze, H&F Council has made huge efforts to ensure that our residents are safe in their homes.
We have invested heavily in the following safety measures:
- meeting the new Building Safety and Compliance regulations – with 49 higher-risk premises registered ahead of schedule with the new Building Safety Regulator
- rolling out a new unique Evacuation System (commended by the London Fire Brigade) in our tallest blocks
- upgrading more than 4,000 front doors to the highest safety-rated fire door at no cost to tenants or leaseholders
- installing sprinklers in more than 600 high-rise properties
- creating personal emergency evacuation plans for residents who need extra support
- establishing a new resident group to oversee and monitor fire safety compliance across the council
- commissioning independent expert safety auditor Pennington Choices to review our fire safety measures.
Keeping our residents safe is our number one priority.
