We saw an awful incident unfold today when Grenfell Tower in West London caught fire in the early hours of this morning. The high rise block in West London normally houses over 2,000 people over 27 floors. All of the families who lived there are tonight without a home. The blaze was still burning well into the afternoon but emergency services continue to work hard to secure the area and start to work out what happened. Unfortunately, as we know, some people lost their lives in this tragic event and we must wait for the London Fire brigade to do it’s work to find out what happened.
We have seen some truly disturbing scenes throughout the day on social media and heard accounts from residents who escaped the burning building. We have also seen funds started and communities coming together in a way that constantly makes me proud to be a Londoner.
Community working together
What has been uplifting to see, is how the community is working together to rally around the residents of Grenfell Tower who have been affected. Mosques and churches have opened their doors to offer a roof for the night. Blankets and clothes have been requested with drop-off centres set up for any donations.
As we continue to hear about the events of today, there will be many questions which will need answering. We will wait to hear from emergency services as they continue to establish the cause of the fire. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have set up an information page which you can read by clicking here.
I would like to send my thoughts and best wishes to everyone affected. I will continue to post updates on my social media including ways you can help or support the families involved.