100 signatures reached
To: PM Theresa May
THE GRENFELL TOWER FIRE HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR FIREMEN TO CARRY OUT FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENTS
1. Return fire safety checks, risk assessments and fire safety training to the Fire Brigade and remove this function from independent third parties in business to make a profit.
2. Restore the number of firemen to appropriate levels.
Why is this important?
Grenfell Tower was built in 1974 by Kensington and Chelsea which remains one of the richest boroughs in London. The tower block was refurbished last year; part of the refurbishment involved exterior cladding and additional flats. The tenants made it known that the refurbished building was a fire hazard; their complaints ignored. On Wednesday 14 June 2017 the tenants of Grenfell Tower paid with their lives when a flat caught a light as a result of a faulty fridge. People lost their lives for no good reason. Mothers threw their children out of the window in order to save them whilst they perished. We cannot as a civilised society put profit before human lives. We cannot treat people who are poor as less than equal because they are poor.
We want to ensure that fire safety checks, risk assessments and fire safety training is immediately returned to the Fire Brigade.
Firemen have integrity. They are responsible and better equipped to deal with the prevention and detection of fires.
It is logical that those responsible for saving lives should do the relevant checks to make sure buildings are safe; not independent third parties for a profit. We have seen first-hand the results of a complete failure to have the fire brigade carry out risk assessments, so please return this important function back to the fire brigade and restore their numbers to the correct levels so that they can do their job; which is to keep us the public safe.
