The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which tragically claimed 72 lives, is the focus of Olaide Sadiq’s gut-wrenching documentary which has just been released on Netflix. It digs deep into what led to the disaster and includes interviews with survivors and their families, whose stories are difficult to hear but make for essential listening for regulators and emergency first responders alike.
With help from housing journalist Peter Apps, the documentary shows how the fire was the result of a perfect storm: a mix of incompetence, dishonesty, greed, and (that dreaded term) systemic failure. The local council, eager to enhance the tower’s appearance and boost property values, chose to cover the concrete building with decorative cladding. But they went for the cheapest option—aluminium composite panels, without realizing how flammable they were. These panels were sold to the council by a US-based company’s French division, who, during the inquiry, were accused of covering up their own research about how dangerous the product was.
The then UK government, under David Cameron’s coalition, ignored warnings from the earlier 2009 Lakanal House fire, which involved similar cladding and killed six people. Whilst other countries subsequently tightened regulations after cladding-related building fires, the UK did not.
Even the London Fire Brigade’s senior officers weren’t aware of the risks, electing to stick to the “stay put” policy, telling people in the tower to remain in their flats as the fire was occurring – an approach that ultimately proved fatal. The frontline firefighters themselves showed incredible bravery, but failure to adapt proved to be a tragic failure. Among the government figures involved, Theresa May, then Prime Minister, concerningly observed that: “There was regulation there, it just wasn’t up to purpose.”
Olaide Sadiq’s Netflix production drives home the point that when politicians casually talk about stripping away regulations, they should be taken straight to the foot of the tower – no excuses. Similarly, there are poignant lessons for regulators and emergency first responders everywhere.
Grenfell Uncovered is available now on Netflix. You can view the official trailer via this link.
