# Seven years ago today, 72 people died when a fire broke out in #Grenfell Tower, a social housing building in West #London. People burnt and choked to death in one of the wealthiest cities in one of the richest countries in the world because local politicians wanted to save money.

#neverForget

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Today, in 2017, the Grenfell Tower, a residential apartment building in West London, was hit by a devastating fire that burnt for 60 hours, killing 72 people. Why were people left to be burnt to death in one of the richest cities in the world?

The fire was caused by a faulty refrigerator on the 16th floor just before 1 am, but a column of flames quickly started spreading up the side of the building. Smoke and flames spread to multiple apartments, but residents who called the fire brigade were told to stay put.

Eventually, the London Fire Brigade ordered an evacuation of the tower at 02:47 am, but it was too late for many residents who could not escape due to the heat and smoke in the lobbies and stairs. Only 36 people survived after the evacuation order was given.

It soon became clear that the fire had spread so quickly because the building’s cladding and insulation were highly flammable. The local council had installed it despite warnings about the potential risk, and it was cheaper than safer alternatives.

Opened in 1974, Grenfell Tower was a form of council or social housing offered by the local authority for working-class residents. Grenfell did not have a sprinkler system that would have saved many lives, as although laws changed in 2007, they only applied to new buildings.

Six years on, an inquiry has yet to report its findings fully, and no charges have been brought against officials. Meanwhile, the tower itself is still standing as a chilling reminder of the disgraceful way working-class communities are treated in London and the UK.

57 of the victims were from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds from the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, South Asia, and Latin America. There is a clear link between race, poverty, and discrimination that led to the neglect that caused the tragedy.

The Grenfell tragedy highlighted the way people in social housing have been demonized and abused by the rich and powerful. Kensington and Chelsea Council threatened a Grenfell resident with prosecution after he wrote about his safety concerns online.

"All I can see is money put before lives. Why do our lives matter so little? [...] Put lives before money, public services before money." –Emma O’Connor, survivor

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqDHwyuYggv2OQOtvQbdTHA

#grownostr