A long-awaited public inquiry into the tragic Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 72 lives in London in 2017 has placed significant blame on failures by the government, construction industry, and particularly the companies involved in fitting the building’s exterior with flammable cladding.
The fire, which occurred on June 14, 2017, in a 23-story social housing block, was the deadliest residential blaze in Britain since World War II.
“The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable,” stated The inquiry’s final report, led by retired judge Martin Moore-Bick.
The report laid primary responsibility on the companies involved in the tower’s maintenance and refurbishment, particularly those that had marketed combustible cladding materials as safe. Additionally, it criticized both local and national authorities, regulatory bodies, and the fire brigade for years of inaction regarding fire safety in high-rise buildings.
The inquiry, which produced a nearly 1,700-page report, described the tragedy as the result of “decades of failure,” with a focus on profit over safety. Moore-Bick noted that while the responsibility varied among the parties involved, incompetence, dishonesty, and greed were common factors.
Grenfell United, a group representing survivors and families of the victims, expressed deep frustration with the systemic failures, stating that the government had prioritized corporate interests over public safety for too long.
The inquiry also criticized the slow and inadequate response from the Kensington and Chelsea council and the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), which managed the tower. The council’s failure to address fire safety concerns in the years leading up to the blaze was heavily condemned, as was the TMO’s focus on cost-cutting over safety.
The report also highlighted the misconduct of companies involved in the tower’s refurbishment. It accused firms such as Arconic Architectural Products, Celotex, and Kingspan of “systematic dishonesty” in manipulating testing processes and misrepresenting the safety of their products. In response, Arconic denied selling unsafe products, while Kingspan acknowledged historical failings but denied causing the tragedy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered an apology on behalf of the state to the victims’ families, acknowledging the country’s failure to protect its citizens. He emphasized that the findings must lead to justice for those affected.
As of now, 58 people and 19 organizations remain under investigation by British police, with potential prosecutions for corporate manslaughter and fraud still years away due to the complexity of the case.
With input from Reuters.
