25 June, 2017
Hundreds of residents hastily packed their bags and sought emergency shelter, with many angry and confused about the chaotic situation.
Britain's Press Association reports that dozens of people have refused to leave their homes on a London housing estate, defying efforts by officials to evacuate some apartment blocks due to fire safety concerns.
Carl McDowell, 31, said he took one look at the packed inflatable beds offered in the center's gym and went back to his own apartment.
Camden Council's Labour Party leader Georgia Gould said the council had acted "as swiftly as we possibly can" to ensure people's safety after the fire service said they could not guarantee the residents' safety in those blocks.
"Whilst we are clear that our cladding design and insulation significantly differs to that at Grenfell Tower, the external cladding panels did not satisfy our independent laboratory testing or the high standards we set for contractors", Gould said in a statement Thursday, adding that the council had chose to "immediately begin preparing to remove these external cladding panels".
Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the insulation used to clad Grenfell Tower has reportedly said they will stop using the product on high-rise buildings.
Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, said on Saturday night: "A failure in testing of the cladding does not necessarily mean that a building will have to be evacuated".
Authorities in Manchester said they were not ruling out the possibility of evacuations pending the result of examinations, while Plymouth and Portsmouth councils announced plans to remove cladding found to be combustible but had not been advised to evacuate residents.
Mr Javid said he had "deep admiration for the calm and stoicism" with which many residents in Camden had handled their evacuation - with some of those affected angrily claiming they were only given a few hours' notice.
Dan Daly, the LFB's Assistant Commissioner for fire safety, said "essential works" were required in four tower blocks in the Chalcots estate.
"I know it's hard, but Grenfell changes everything and I just don't believe we can take any risk with our residents' safety and I have to put them first", she said. "Grenfell changed everything, and when told our blocks were unsafe to remain in, we acted".
"I just don't believe we can take any risk with our residents' safety, and I have to put them first".
She said local authorities were being urged to send in samples of cladding and material to be tested and "immediate action" would be taken if the materials were found not to be up to fire safety standards.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn said May needed to "get a grip" and lead a stronger response to what is a "national threat".
Police said Friday they are considering filing manslaughter charges in the Grenfell disaster and they were conducting a wide-ranging investigation that will look at everything that contributed to it.
Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack told reporters. "We are looking at all health and safety and fire safety offenses, and we are reviewing every company at the moment involved in the building and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower".
Camden Council in north London started the evacuation Friday night so urgent safety upgrades could begin.
Hotpoint said Friday that "words can not express our sorrow at this awful tragedy" and added it was working with authorities to examine the appliance. One hotel chain, Premier Inn, has calling in experts to check its buildings.
McCormack also repeated calls for anyone with information about the fire and all those in the tower at the time to come forward as police continue to comb through the devastated building to try to identify all the victims.
Police say 79 people are either dead or missing and presumed dead in the blaze, although authorities have warned the number might change and it could never be known exactly how many people died.
