LFB completes work to deliver Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations

The milestone builds on the LFB’s wider programme of reform following the Grenfell Tower tragedy that occurred in June 2017. In 2024, the LFB completed every recommendation directed to it in the Public Inquiry Panel’s Phase 1 Report, introducing wide-ranging improvements across operational policies, incident command, training, emergency call handling, communications and equipment.

The Phase 2 work strengthens those reforms by improving how the Brigade identifies and embeds lessons from operational incidents, enhancing firefighter communications and strengthening training to support safer and effective emergency responses.

A key element of this work has been centred on transforming the Brigade’s approach to organisational learning. Drawing on Best Practice from sectors including healthcare and aviation, the Brigade has introduced a more open and supportive learning culture, with new arrangements to ensure lessons from operational incidents, inquests and investigations are identified and put into practical improvements on a swifter basis.

Significant incidents are now prioritised so that risk-critical learning can be rapidly shared with operational staff, thereby helping crews adapt to emerging risks and improve future emergency responses.

Enhanced communications

Alongside improvements to organisational learning, the Brigade has enhanced firefighter communications, including work to improve the resilience of radio communications at incidents, particularly so in high-rise buildings, and strengthened training such that firefighters can recover from the loss of communications. Training has also been enhanced to improve firefighters’ understanding of water supply systems, hydrants and techniques for increasing water flow and pressure during major incidents.

Following Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Brigade made huge changes to policies, procedures and equipment, which have been accelerated thanks to investment from the Mayor of London. That investment has ensured that the LFB is now better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and keep all Londoners safe.

New life-saving equipment such as breathing apparatus with radios was introduced after the Phase 1 Report to allow crews to communicate faster in emergencies and boosted communications between London’s Emergency Services. The Brigade also has the tallest turntable ladders in Europe – standing at 64 metres high – and is now able to receive and store electronic building plans to support crews responding to critical incidents.

Profound moment

London’s Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a profound moment for the London Fire Brigade. We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved, survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night.”

Smith continued: “Completing all of the remaining recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is an important milestone for the Brigade. The changes that we’ve implemented mean that we are now better prepared to respond to incidents. Londoners today are safer as a direct result of those changes. We will continue working with our partners across Government and the Fire and Rescue Service sector in order to ensure the lessons of Grenfell are learned and continue to shape everything we do.”

*Further information is available online at www.london-fire.gov.uk