DFRS responds to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is joining the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and other fire and rescue services across the UK remembering the 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower Fire after publication of the Inquiry Phase 2 Report on Wednesday 4th September 2024.

Derbyshire’s Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Gavin Tomlinson KFSM who is also the Chair of the Protection and Business Safety Committee for the NFCC said the day of publication was "...a day for reflection and a day to remember the 72 people who lost their lives in Grenfell Tower Fire

“More than 7 years ago we witnessed a fire that despite the passing of time continues to impact the lives of the families, friends and community who lost loved ones in the fire on the 14th June 2017. On behalf of everyone working for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, I would like to extend our thoughts to those families and the Grenfell community who will no doubt find the publication and reading of today’s report a painful and difficult time.” 

In a statement from the National Fire Chiefs Council, Chair, Mark Hardingham also reflected on the actions of those responding to the fire. He said: “We also reflect on the actions of the firefighters, emergency services workers and members of the local community who responded to the fire. They faced indescribably harrowing scenes, and we remember their selflessness and bravery. 

“Fire and rescue services are better prepared to respond to fires in high-rise residential buildings since the Phase 1 report was published, but we must continue to reflect and learn from the systemic failures that led to the loss of 72 lives.

"It is the responsibility of NFCC as the professional voice of fire and rescue services and the sector to learn from the issues leading up to the incident, the actions on the night of the fire, what has happened since, and to continue to correct what went wrong. We will focus all our efforts on what we must do better or differently so that we never again see anything like the Grenfell Tower fire.

“We will carefully consider every recommendation in the report, giving them our full attention. We will continue to work with partners in government and across and beyond the fire service sector as we press for significant improvement and reform on behalf of our communities."

Similarly to the NFCC, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has said that it will now take the time to reflect on the content of the report, giving the recommendations their full attention.