Watch: 'trapped behind locked gate' Dagenham Tower Fire Raises Alarms Over Safety Failures

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A fire in a tower block in Dagenham, east London, has sparked outrage among residents who claim they were trapped behind locked gates during the blaze. Video footage obtained by Sky News shows terrified residents trying to escape, only to find their route blocked. The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning, leading to the evacuation of over 80 people, with two residents hospitalized. As flames engulfed the building, a video from inside captured the panic and frustration of those trapped, with one person shouting, "open the f*****g gate."

Video given to Sky News shows terrified residents at a tower block on fire in east London appearing to have their escape blocked by a locked gate.

More than 80 people were evacuated and two taken to hospital after the fire broke out in Dagenham ➡️ https://t.co/asaQLcsYtW pic.twitter.com/jYrnscpf3C

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 30, 2024

 

Concerns about the building’s fire safety had been raised long before the incident. According to a spokesperson for the residents, “They were fully aware of the fire safety issues: how the building's fire alarm system failed to go off, denying us the critical warning we needed.” Residents allege that not only did the alarm system fail, but the designated fire escape route was also padlocked shut, leaving them without a clear path to safety. “The fire escape route which should have been our lifeline was padlocked shut... the multiple layers of management from landlords to agencies utterly failed to protect us,” the spokesperson added.

 

Residents have been vocal about the ongoing issues with the building's fire safety measures, including delays in removing dangerous cladding. Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, confirmed that fire crews at the scene reported "burning cladding falling from the building," a stark reminder of the dangerous materials that still plague many buildings across the city. The London Fire Brigade acknowledged that over 1,000 buildings in London currently require urgent remedial work, highlighting a city-wide crisis in building safety standards.

 

One resident, identified as Jlek, credited her survival to her dog. “The dog saved my life. It started barking. No alarm in this building. Nothing. If the dog hadn't started barking I’d be dying,” she told Sky News. Her account underscores the failure of the building’s alarm system, which left residents relying on pets and sheer luck to alert them to the fire.

 

In response to the incident, Dagenham Council has pledged to support affected residents by providing emergency housing and pressing Block Management UK Ltd, the company responsible for managing the building, to fulfill its obligations. “We will continue to press Block Management UK Ltd to meet their obligations to residents. We will also look to recover costs from responsible parties,” a council spokesperson said. However, Block Management has not yet commented on the incident or the accusations of negligence.

 

The Dagenham fire serves as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate fire safety measures and poor building management. Residents, who had long warned of the dangers, are now left grappling with the aftermath of a fire that could have been even more catastrophic. The locked fire escape gate and failed alarm system not only highlight critical lapses in safety protocols but also raise urgent questions about the oversight and accountability of those responsible for maintaining residential buildings.

 

The incident has fueled growing frustration among Londoners, particularly in the wake of previous tragedies like Grenfell Tower, where safety failures led to devastating loss of life. With thousands of buildings still needing urgent safety upgrades, the Dagenham fire is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle to ensure that all residents have access to safe living conditions. As investigations continue, residents and the wider public will be watching closely to see if meaningful action is taken to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

 

Credit: Sky News 2024-08-31

 

 

 

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[Rimmer]

Troll post removed, if you don't like the OP copy don't read it.

[pacovl46]

Some heads will deservedly roll over this! How difficult is it to repair fire doors? And it's not like residents hadn't been complaining about it for quite some time! Plus they were issued an enforcement order by the fire brigade in 2023! The greed of some people is just ridiculous! 

 

What I also don't get is how they approved additional floors to be added despite the fact that a survey of the external walls came to the conclusion that the building didn't meet building regulations at the time of its construction! 

[CallumWK]

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

Some heads will deservedly roll over this! How difficult is it to repair fire doors? And it's not like residents hadn't been complaining about it for quite some time! Plus they were issued an enforcement order by the fire brigade in 2023! The greed of some people is just ridiculous! 

 

What I also don't get is how they approved additional floors to be added despite the fact that a survey of the external walls came to the conclusion that the building didn't meet building regulations at the time of its construction! 

 

Maybe, after all, the UK is not different from Thailand.

[pacovl46]

35 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Maybe, after all, the UK is not different from Thailand.

Overall I'd say it is different, but there's greedy individuals amongst every nation on the planet.