Tower Block Flat Fire Response is a ‘Postcode Lottery’ Fire Brigades Union Warns

Fires that break out in tower block flats receive a different response around in the country, which the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) today blasts as an unacceptable ‘postcode lottery.’

Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, a more widespread public concern has been voiced about tower block fire safety and evacuation methods.

General Secretary of the FBU, Matt Wrack wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister: “We are aware that there are greatly differing standards and approaches adopted by different Fire and Rescue Services across the country. There is effectively a postcode lottery whereby fires in identical blocks of flats will receive differing levels of response from their local fire and rescue service. This cannot be considered acceptable.”

Current fire and rescue operation presumes a fire in a block of flats will be contained within the flat it breaks out in.

Grenfell Tower was an exception showing current responses need reviewing.

Recent St Judes flat fire saw a response of several

Avon Fire and Rescue units, including a Hydraulic Platform (HP)

Avon Fire and Rescue covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It has four aerial ladder platforms to cover all of the areas, but just one dedicated aerial crew and three other crews who would have to be called away from other jobs to man the appliance.

The FBU has now put together a recommendation about the initial minimum response needed for residential tower block fires. Matt Wrack states this would be:

2 pumps (each with a crew of 5) in no longer than 5 minutes from time of call.

3 further pumps (each with a crew of 5) in no longer than 8 minutes from time of call.

An aerial (high reach) appliance (with a minimum crew of 2) in no longer than 10 minutes from time of call.

There are currently 125 aerial appliances in the UK, but only 33 of these have a permanent dedicated crew.