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LFB accepts Grenfell recommendations one month on

PA Media Commissioner Andy RoePA Media
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe says the organisation must "continue learning"

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has accepted every recommendation about its service that was made in the second Grenfell inquiry report.

Released on 4 September, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase Two report, contained a total of 58 recommendations, 13 of which were in a section specifically about the London Fire Brigade.

Recommendations from the first phase of the inquiry have already led to institutional change across the brigade, the LFB said.

LFB commissioner Andy Roe said it was his "promise to Londoners" that the brigade had a "continuous desire to improve".

Recommendations from the Phase Two Report included:

  • Being an organisation that learns and improves
  • Using effective radio systems
  • Training on the water supply system, including different types of hydrants
  • Create a protocol for communicating with water undertakers over the supply of water for firefighting
  • Managing the deployment of firefighters.
Reuters The covered remains of Grenfell Tower Reuters
Recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry have already led to institutional change across the Brigade, the LFB said

Some of the recommendations were aimed at His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, all of the country's fire and rescue services, the government, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the British Standards Institution.

This included the creation of a National College of Fire and Rescue, which would be established by the government.

In March, LFB announced that it had completed every recommendation directed specifically towards it in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase One Report.

These included improved training and new equipment such as fire escape hoods.

Mr Roe told BBC London: "We have saved hundreds of Londoners' lives since we made those changes following the first phase of the inquiry."

This, he said, included more than 200 people who were rescued using fire escape hoods since their introduction.

"Our response has fundamentally changed," he added. "We've proved it. We've saved hundreds of lives because of the changes to equipment, to policy, to training, to decision making."

'Meaningful change'

Mr Roe added: "We owe it to the bereaved, the survivors, the community and our own staff to continue learning and changing the way we work to ensure that whatever situations we face ahead of us, we are equipped, trained and ready to respond effectively.

"The comprehensive recommendations outlined in the Phase Two Report reflect not only the depth of this tragedy, but also the complexity of its causes.

“We fully accept the recommendations of the inquiry directed towards LFB and fire and rescue services."

LFB A firefighter wearing a fireground radioLFB
The LFB said it had introduced new fireground radios following recommendations from Phase One of the report

"In recent weeks, I have been working closely with relevant community groups and key stakeholders to form our response, ensuring we continue on our path towards meaningful change," Mr Roe said.

"I am also committed to ongoing discussions with the government to address the broader recommendations aimed at improving building safety standards."

He said he expects an upcoming report from HMICFRS will reflect changes made by the brigade.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "It’s right that London Fire Brigade accept all the recommendations set out for them.

"This is an important step, and I welcome the brigade’s plans for delivering the further changes needed at pace and continuing to protect and serve London."

He added that he would continue to hold the commissioner to account.

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