Report of the Chief Fire Officer

John Buckley, Chief Fire Officer, presented the report which informs members of the Phase 1 public enquiry report following the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017 which destroyed the 24 story block of flats, and in which 72 people lost their lives.

The following points were highlighted:

a)  Phase 1 had examined the role and approach of the fire service at the incident. A lot has been learnt and changes made to procedures and further work is being undertaken;

b)  The ‘staying put’ policy of building owners, not fire services, is under review nationally with consideration of at what point and with which extent of circumstances should people exit compartmentalised sections of a building into potentially smoke filled staircases to evacuate;

c)  In the Grenfell incident the smoke from the fire on the 4^th floor fire spread to the 24^th floor in just 12 minutes. The fire service attending Grenfell Tower followed the building owner’s policy and were restricted in alternative options as the building failed so catastrophically. Due to the ferocity of the fire, if any other course of action had been taken, there would still have been tragic losses;

d)  In a local context, there is only one building remaining which requires recladding and work has now commenced;

e)  It is clear that to prevent further building safety failures, action is required at development level by building control with changes to specifications and legislation essential;

f)  NFRS has is engaged locally and nationally. An officer has been seconded to the City Council as part of the Safer Housing Team, and the Head of Prevention and Protection is engaged in the National Fire Chiefs Council workstreams;

Questions from Authority members were responded to as follows:

g)  With regard to media reports that where firefighters fail annual fitness tests, they are able to continue working, the National guidance states that 97% of firefighters achieve a fitness pass rate, but it is possible that those who fail by a very small margin can temporarily continue to operate but will be supported and are required to meet fitness standards. For firefighters who do not achieve the lowest fitness standard, they are not eligible to operate as active firefighters. Command officers are also required to undergo and achieve an acceptable level of fitness assessments which include determination of competence to command;

h)  The Fire Service is a statutory consultee on planning applications and whilst able to advise, there is no requirement for any fire safety advice to be acted upon;

i)  The Service is training all operational staff to identify issues of concern in commercial and public access premises to help identify low-level issues which may be tackled and prevent incidents;

j)  NFRS has always worked closely with the city’s main social housing provider, Nottingham City Homes, which in general, maintains a very good standard;

k)  NFRS are capable of reaching to a height of approximately 100 feet which is the height of an average 10 storeys. For high rise buildings above this, or with constricted access such as the Victoria Centre flats, fire and rescue services can only rely on internal mechanisms;

l)  Generally the Fire Service’s advice is not to tackle domestic fires but to get out, close the door and call the Fire Service. It is so easy for people to be overcome by smoke and become casualties, so requiring fire extinguishers to be available in high rise buildings would not be a simple solution;

m)  It is vital that buildings are designed to help ensure that fire can be contained compartmentally.

Members of the Authority also commented as follows:

n)  The disgusting attacks by the media and Parliament on fire officers attending the scene is wrong and totally unacceptable. To criticise them is easy but this was an extreme and unprecedented situation where fire officers risked their lives. Fire services and fire officers were not responsible for the failings on 14 June 2017, and is vital that we as Fire and Rescue Authorities across the country stand together, challenge such behaviour, bring all planning authorities together with relevant ministers and address the issue of such fire traps;

o)  The ridiculous fact that although statutory consultees, the advice of the Fire Services does not need to be acted upon, has been raised by the Chair in writing to the Secretary of State. The Fire and Rescue Service needs to work with newly elected MPs across the City and County to Lobby for action;

p)  The huge mental impact on fire officers attending such incidents is recognised and it is a massive and unacceptable disgrace that serving fire officers, such as Commissioner  Cotton, should be made scape goats for failings far beyond their control and responsibility.

It is noted that copies of the full report are available for members to view.

Resolved

1)  to endorse the approach being taken by the Chief Fire Officer to address the outcomes of the Grenfell Phase One Report;

2)  to agree to receive updates in relation to further action, associated with the Grenfell Inquiry, through the Community Safety Committee.