A massive fire has broken out and engulfed an apartment building named Grenfell Tower in London. The image above shows some of the 200 firefighters battling the huge fire that broke out in London on Wednesday, June 14. Multiple outlets such as CNN and The Sun are reporting on claims that people were jumping from windows to escape the blaze, with the latter publication reporting that people have jumped from higher floors of the Grenfell Tower to escape the fire.
The Grenfell tower block is in West London, reports BBC News, as videos and photos from the scene of the fire show that the fire has nearly completely usurped the tower block on Latimer Road in West London. Desperate people have turned to social media to try and find those missing from Grenfell Tower, even as firefighters tackle the fire and rescue people from the flames.
Reports of people being trapped in their homes in Grenfell Tower were reported, according to the publication. With the fire being first reported at approximately 1:16 a.m. on Wednesday, in British Summer Time, plenty of the residents were likely at home and sleeping in Grenfell Tower during the blaze. The time translates to 8:16 p.m. on Tuesday in the eastern time zone of the U.S.
The Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate caused fire victims to be treated for a variety of injuries, including smoke inhalation. It is feared that with such a massive fire, the Grenfell Tower might collapse under the structural damage the fire has caused. About 40 fire engines showed up from the London Fire Brigade to battle the fire. Residents of Grenfell Tower were being evacuated from the building as late as 4:00 a.m. in British Summer Time.
Meanwhile, an article titled “Grenfell Tower Still A Fire Risk” from the Grenfell Action Group is getting attention for its attempt to bring light to the fire risk of Grenfell as early as one year ago. The piece states that the resident of Grenfell Tower felt that the condition of Grenfell Tower had declined in risky ways. The warnings about Grenfell Tower allegedly only having one entrance and one exit and the fire potential is truly eerie to read in light of the massive fire that has broken out.
“This matter is of particular concern as there is only one entry and exit to Grenfell Tower during the Improvement Works and the potential for a fire to break out in the communal area on the walkway does not bear thinking about as residents would be trapped in the building with no way out!”
The article went on to state that bulky garbage items like old mattresses and other items created a fire risk. The article foreshadowed the fire risk, claiming that the Grenfell Action Board has “raised fire safety issues in the Grenfell Tower area” and never received responses that satisfied them. They saved their last warning for a bolded statement about fire risk in Grenfell Tower.
“Not for the first time we must ask how safe is Lancaster West, can staff be trusted to ensure it is safe, and what hidden fire risks might be lurking in Grenfell Tower or elsewhere on the estate?”
[Featured Image by Celeste Thomas @MAMAPIE/AP Images]