- A major fire broke out in a tower block in Dagenham, East London, prompting the evacuation of over 100 residents.
- The Spectrum Building was covered in combustible cladding, raising concerns about fire safety in high-rise buildings.
- Two people were hospitalized, and four others were treated at the scene.
- The building had previously faced fire safety concerns and was undergoing work to remove non-compliant cladding.
- Calls for action and accountability have been made, with the FBU criticizing the incident as a “national scandal.”
On Monday, August 26, 2024, a major fire broke out in a tower block in Dagenham, East London, prompting the evacuation of over 100 residents. The Spectrum Building, a mixed-use structure, was engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to scaffolding, the ground floor, and up to the sixth floor, as well as the roof.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of combustible cladding in high-rise buildings, particularly in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, where 72 people lost their lives due to a similar fire. The Spectrum Building was reportedly undergoing work to remove and replace “non-compliant cladding” from the fifth and sixth floors, where the apartments are located.
The Aftermath: Injuries and Displacement
Two people were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while four others were treated at the scene by emergency services. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) declared a major incident and deployed over 225 firefighters and 40 fire engines to the scene.
Displaced residents are receiving assistance from emergency services and council support staff at a nearby leisure center. The LFB has stated that a plan is in place to ensure the welfare of those affected by the fire.
Cladding Concerns and Safety Issues
The Spectrum Building had previously faced fire safety concerns, with the LFB issuing an enforcement notice to the management company in July 2023 for five breaches of fire safety. The notice focused on issues such as escape routes, risk management, and safety equipment, but did not specifically mention cladding.
A planning application from May 2023 revealed that the building’s cladding was made of high-pressure laminate (HPL), which is typically sheets of wood or paper joined together by a resin. Studies have shown that burning HPL cladding releases heat 25 times faster and burns 115 times hotter than non-combustible products.
Calls for Action and Accountability
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has strongly criticized the incident, labeling it a “national scandal” tied to combustible cladding and the deregulation of the construction industry. The FBU has been warning authorities about the dangers posed by deregulation in the construction sector for decades, prioritizing corporate interests over human safety.
Campaigners have called for unsafe cladding to be removed from buildings since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The latest statistics show that as of July 2024, 4,630 buildings had been found to have unsafe cladding, with only 2,299 (50%) having started or completed remediation works.
FAQs
Q. What caused the fire in the Dagenham tower block?
A. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but it is understood that the building was undergoing work to remove non-compliant cladding.
Q. How many people were affected by the fire?
A. Over 100 people were evacuated from the building, and two people were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Q. What type of cladding was used on the Spectrum Building?
A. The building was covered in high-pressure laminate (HPL) cladding, which is typically sheets of wood or paper joined together by a resin.
Q. Has the government taken action to address the issue of unsafe cladding since the Grenfell Tower fire?
A. Yes, a remediation programme has been in place since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, focusing on the specific type of panels used on the west London block – aluminium composite material (ACM). However, as of July 2024, only 50% of the 4,630 buildings found to have unsafe cladding have started or completed remediation works.
See Also | Inside the Life of Axel Rudakubana: The Young Suspect Charged in the Southport Tragedy
