Grenfell: £20m compensation agreed for firefighters

More than 100 firefighters affected by the Grenfell fire have had their claims settled for £20m, a union says.

The fire, in the 23-storey North Kensington tower block on 14 June 2017, killed 72 people.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it led the action by 114 members against companies involved in the fire, Kensington and Chelsea Council and London's fire commissioner.

They have been contacted by the BBC for comment.

The FBU said some of those who claimed were "unable to work again due to severe trauma", and others claimed for personal injury and loss caused by "alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty" on the night of the fire.

Their claims were finalised with Arconic Architectural Products, Celotex and Rydon Maintenance Limited, as well as the council and commissioner, after an agreement, including with the council, was reached last month.

It comes after some 900 civil claims from survivors and bereaved families were settled with a number of defendants in the High Court last year.

Vincent Reynolds from Thompsons Solicitors, which represented the firefighters, said the fire had left an "indelible mark on the firefighters who responded to the call".

"Many bear the psychological scars of that night, struggling with trauma from the harrowing experience," he said.

"The incident exposed them to unimaginable scenes, and sparked a deeper reflection on fire and building safety policy.

"We hope this settlement brings closure of a sort for these firefighters, although we know that for many the injuries will last a lifetime."

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy is a stark reminder of the systemic failings of building safety and government accountability.

"Firefighters, many of whom have been deeply affected by the horrors they witnessed, continue to advocate for those living in unsafe conditions.

"We demand that the government takes urgent action to ensure such a disaster never recurs, and that there is meaningful accountability for a tragedy born out of disregard for human life."

Kensington and Chelsea Council chief executive Maxine Holdsworth said in a report: "The council has worked with other defendants to ensure that valid claims are resolved and compensated, in a way that mitigates the financial impact on the public purse."

The council declined to comment further.

A spokesperson for Arconic said the company "has been engaged in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process designed to resolve the legal claims brought by a group of firefighters following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower".

"We confirm and welcome that the parties to that process have now signed a final agreement. The terms of that agreement are confidential."

A London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesperson said "the welfare of staff in the control room and on the ground is of paramount importance to us", adding that LFB has been "working hard to transform and improve our ways of working" including by providing new equipment, policies, support and training.

"Support remains available to those who attended the Grenfell Tower fire, and all our staff, even if they have not accessed the counselling services to date. We know that an incident at work or personal experience years after an event can be a trigger," they continued.

"We offer that reassurance to all staff that services are available immediately after an incident or years later."

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