The Grenfell Tower fire, which occurred on June 14, 2017, remains one of the most devastating tragedies in recent British history, resulting in the loss of at least 72 lives and leaving countless others affected. This petition calls for the London Fire Brigade, who responded to the call of duty in an incomprehensibly dangerous and unprecedented situation, to be pardoned from the findings of the report. This will allow the blame and accountability to be placed with those who’s selfish decisions resulted in the tragedy, and in doing so hopefully get some closure, answers and support for those still facing the impact of the fire. 

The fire started in a fourth-floor flat and rapidly spread due to several critical factors, including poor maintenance of the building and the use of highly flammable cladding materials during the tower's recent refurbishment. The Reynobond panels, manufactured by Arconic, were known to be combustible, yet they were permitted under existing safety regulations that failed to account for the potential risks associated with high-rise buildings. This oversight represents a broader systemic failure within the building and regulatory framework that should not be attributed to the fire service.

Arconic is a global manufacturing company that produces a variety of products for industries including aerospace, automotive, and building and construction. Arconic have been reported to have made donations to the Conservative Party in the UK. These donations could explain the high-profit contracts secured by Arconic that resulted in their flammable cladding used in many high rise buildings throughout the United Kingdom. To this day, there are high rise buildings in this country which still have unsafe cladding. 

During the emergency, the LFB was confronted with an unprecedented situation. Initial reports indicated that the fire was contained, and the brigade adhered to a "stay put" policy, a common practice which ordinarily is effective in saving lives from high rise fires. This approach, while based on established protocols, became tragically ineffective as the fire spread rapidly and aggressively due to the cladding on the building. Firefighters were operating under immense pressure, striving to save lives while facing unforeseen circumstances that escalated beyond expectations.

The Grenfell Inquiry focused on several key areas in an aim to understand the causes of the fire. These were as follows:

 1. Fire Safety Regulations: Examining the effectiveness of existing fire safety laws and practices, particularly concerning cladding materials used in the tower’s refurbishment.

 2. Emergency Response: Analysing the response of emergency services during the fire and the effectiveness of evacuation procedures.

 3. Building Management: Investigating the responsibilities of the building’s management and the decisions leading up to the disaster.

 4. Accountability: Identifying failures at various levels, including those of contractors, local authorities, and the government.

The inquiry's findings on the emergency response highlighted several issues:

1. Delayed Response: The London Fire Brigade faced challenges in mobilising resources quickly and effectively, leading to delays in reaching the scene.

2. Communication Failures: There were significant problems with communication between emergency services and the building occupants, as well as among responders themselves.

3. Assumptions about Stay-Put Policy: Firefighters relied on protocol "stay put" policy, which proved inadequate in the face of the rapidly spreading fire, leading to confusion about evacuation.

4. Training Gaps: There were deficiencies in training and preparedness for high-rise fires, affecting the decision-making process during the incident.

5. Resource Limitations: The LFB struggled with resource allocation and was not adequately equipped for such a large-scale emergency 

The “stay put” policy is intended to keep residents safe in their homes during a fire, as many high-rise buildings are constructed with fire-resistant materials and compartmentalisation to prevent smoke and flames from spreading. Due to the flammable cladding used on the building, the fire spread far more quickly and aggressively than it would have had proper health and safety protocol been followed in the construction and maintenance of the building. As a result, the fire was of a much greater size and risk than fire fighters are equipped to deal with. This presented a scenario that had not been trained for, on the sole basis that it should never have happened in the first place.

This petition calls for the LFB to be pardoned from the inquiry, and accountability to be placed only with:

1. The Government, who granted contracts to Arconic who then provided unsafe cladding
2. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, who have one of the highest council tax rates in London, who were responsible for the maintenance of the building
3. Arconic, the manufacturer of the cladding
4. Contractors and regulatory authorities who opted for cheap materials over safe ones. 
   
   

The inquiry concluded that government regulations and guidance on fire safety were inadequate and failed to ensure the safety of high-rise buildings, and budget cuts to fire services undermined the enforcement of safety standards. The government was also criticised for its slow response to the recommendations made after previous fire safety incidents, which could have prevented the Grenfell disaster.

In the 7 years since the tragedy, the LFB have been highly visible and vocal in support of victims from the fire. From attendance at vigils year in year out, to a call for action in safety measures in buildings throughout the country to prevent tragedies such as what happened in Grenfell Tower occurring again. The fire brigade are not to blame for this tragedy, and deserve to be pardoned from the report. 

Any donations kindly given to this cause will go to victims of the fire who are still living in temporary accommodation or otherwise dealing with challenges as a result of the fire.