LFB responds to ‘Fire Service’ recommendations in final Grenfell Inquiry report

Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and relevant community groups, the response outlines the work which is already underway to address these recommendations and the further actions that will be taken.

This year, the LFB announced the completion of every recommendation directed specifically to it in the Phase 1 report, introducing important policies, improved training and new equipment as a result. The Public Inquiry Panel made 58 recommendations in the Phase 2 report, of which 13 were in the section specifically about the London Fire Brigade, including one specifically for the LFB, three aimed at His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in connection with the LFB, five directed to all Fire and Rescue Services nationwide, one for the British Standards Institution, two directed at the Government and one for the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Implementing change

The Inquiry’s one recommendation for the LFB focuses on creating robust systems to gather, review and implement lessons from previous incidents, inquests and investigations. The Brigade fully accepts this recommendation.

The LFB will continue to be a learning organisation, building on the change implemented since Phase 1 of the Inquiry. It will ensure lessons from incidents are understood and good practice is shared and applied across the Brigade.

Significant efforts are already underway to improve learning from major incidents and ensure critical information is distributed more quickly to staff.

Further, the LFB is going to review its operational learning processes, which will consider best practice nationally.

Control Room, incident commanders and operational planning

Three recommendations are directed at HMICFRS and suggest that further inspections should be carried out of the Brigade’s Control Room, incident commander training and operational planning to confirm that improvements made since 2017 have been sustained.

The Brigade was last inspected by HMICFRS back in June. The outcome of that process is expected to be published before Christmas. The LFB has found the scrutiny and challenge provided by HMICFRS critical to driving change across the organisation. It will be up to the HMICFRS to decide how this recommendation will be met. The LFB would welcome further opportunities to demonstrate the improvements it has made.

The Brigade has made significant improvements to its Control Room since the Grenfell Tower fire, including the introduction of new training, policies and technology.

With funding from the Mayor of London, the LFB has also invested in advanced fire training, as well as improved incident command and high-rise exercising, focusing on integrating the Control Room with the incident ground and preparing incident commanders to take difficult and critical decisions at the earliest point of an incident.

The impact of this training on Londoners’ safety has already been demonstrated at incidents such as the 2021 New Providence Wharf fire and the Dagenham Spectrum building fire in August this year, where incident commanders quickly carried out full emergency evacuations of buildings to ensure residents’ safety.

Additionally, LFB has improved the collation of – and access to – information about the risks associated with specific buildings, ensuring that firefighters, incident commanders and Control Room staff have the necessary information to respond effectively to emergencies.

Radio communications

Among the five recommendations for all Fire and Rescue Services, three address radio communications. Following recommendations set out in Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, the LFB introduced new ground radios, which are intrinsically safe and higher-powered handsets that can be connected directly into the facemask of breathing apparatus in order to improve communications to the bridgehead.

The radios also feature both analogue and digital capability and a programme of work is already underway to review the transition of radio communications from analogue to digital.

Water supply

Two other recommendations for Fire and Rescue Services relate to water management at incidents. Following the Phase 1 report, the Brigade has worked closely with water utility companies to ensure improvements to water supply at incidents. The London Fire Commissioner and the Mayor of London will also be writing to water undertakers in due course in order to remind them of their responsibilities to engage with Fire and Rescue Services, while also outlining the risks posed to members of the public and firefighter safety as a direct result of not doing so.

Going forward, the Brigade will be working with the British Standards Institution to improve the BS 750 standard, as recommended by Phase 2 of the Inquiry, and has initiated discussions via its specialist Water Team.

The Brigade supports the recommendation to establish a College of Fire and Rescue to set national standards and looks forward to working with Government, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the wider sector in the planning and delivery phases.

Deployment of firefighters

The Brigade is supportive of the recommendation for the National Fire Chiefs Council to review national arrangements for how firefighters carry out instructions during a live incident. As the largest Fire and Rescue Service which attends the most high-risk incidents, the LFB is keen to take a leading role in supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council with the review and has already reached out to offer its assistance.

Further, the Brigade will consider the wider recommendations from the Inquiry and set out a broader response in due course.

Comprehensive recommendations

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “Our thoughts are, and will always be, with the 72 people who tragically lost their lives, the survivors, their families and the entire Grenfell community. The comprehensive recommendations outlined in the Phase 2 report reflect not only the depth of this tragedy, but also the complexity of its causes.”

Roe continued: “We fully accept the recommendations of the Inquiry directed towards the LFB and Fire and Rescue Services. In recent weeks, I’ve been working closely with relevant community groups and key stakeholders to form our response, ensuring that we continue on our path towards meaningful change. I’m also committed to ongoing discussions with the Government in order to address the broader recommendations aimed at improving building safety standards.”

Further, Roe noted: “This year, we have delivered against all of the recommendations directed at us from the Inquiry's Phase 1 report. These recommendations have been central to driving lasting institutional change across the Brigade.”

On that note, Roe stated: “We have introduced important policies, new equipment and improved training and ways of working, particularly so in terms of how we respond to fires in residential high-rise buildings. I expect the upcoming HMICFRS report will reflect the changes we’ve made. We are far from complacent, though, and know there is still much more to do.”

In conclusion, Roe said: “We will take the same approach to learning the lessons from Phase 2. We owe it to the bereaved, the survivors, the community and our own staff to continue learning and changing the way in which we work to ensure that, whatever situations we face ahead of us, we are equipped, trained and ready to respond effectively.”

Devastating and avoidable tragedy

Sadiq Khan, The Mayor of London, commented: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a devastating and avoidable tragedy. We owe it to every single one of the 72 people who lost their lives, and those whose lives were changed forever, to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.”

Further, Khan said: “It’s right that the London Fire Brigade accepts all of the recommendations set out for it in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. This is an important step. I welcome the Brigade’s plans for delivering the further changes needed at pace and continuing to protect and serve London.”

Khan went on to state: “I was relentless in ensuring the LFB implemented all of the recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which has meant the Brigade is now better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and keep all Londoners safe. It’s clear there’s still more work to be done. I will continue to support and hold the London Fire Commissioner to account to ensure the Brigade improves its performance and standards so that we have the best possible Fire and Rescue Service while building a safer London for everyone.”