Phase 1 of the Inquiry continues with Part 4 – The Outbreak of the Fire

Interviews this week included Firefighter Michael Dowden – the Watch Manager  who took the ‘stand’ for 3 days;  Crew Manager, Charles Batterbee who was first to respond to the fire along with  Firefighter Daniel Brown and Firefighter David Badillo, who have also given evidence.

The Culture of the Inquiry this week seems to be focussing on junior ranking staff, questioning them like suspects and questioning their competence to do their job.

Inquiry lead Counsel Richard Millet QC  asked the firefighters many questions. Most of the questions he posed opened with the phrase ‘Do you think …….?’

Here are some questions that J4G think that Counsel should have been asked:

• Do you think that cuts to the fire service played a role in the response to the fire at Grenfell Tower?
• Do you think that removing the responsibility of fire safety checks from firefighters contributed to the fire?
• Do you think that not having a fire engine with a long enough hose or ladder in central London hindered the response to the fire?
• Do you think that the governmental failure to implement the recommendations from the Lakanal House investigation contributed to the fire?
• Do you think there is anything that needs to be changed immediately on fire safety that could have made a difference if they were in place on the night?
• Do you think it should be those who made the policies, deregulation changes and cost cutting schemes sitting here and answering these questions?
• Do you think there should be an outright ban on flammable cladding?
• Do you think I should question you in a more respectful way?