Fire Brigade completes work to deliver Grenfell recommendations

The fire service completed implementation of the first phase recommendations in 2024

Credit – London Fire Brigade

London Fire Brigade has announced it delivered further improvements to organisational learning, firefighter communications and training.

These recommendations build on the brigade’s wider programme of reform following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In 2024, London Fire Brigade completed every recommendation directed to it in the Inquiry’s phase one report, introducing wide-ranging improvements across operational policies, incident command, training, emergency call handling, communications and equipment.

The phase two work strengthens those reforms by improving how the brigade identifies and embeds lessons from operational incidents, enhancing firefighter communications and strengthening training to support safer and effective emergency responses.

London Fire Brigade said a key part of this work has been transforming its approach to organisational learning. Drawing on best practice from sectors including healthcare and aviation, it has introduced a more open and supportive learning culture, with new arrangements to ensure lessons from operational incidents, inquests and investigations are identified and put into practical improvements more quickly.

Significant incidents are now prioritised so that risk-critical learning can be rapidly shared with operational staff, helping crews adapt to emerging risks and improve future emergency responses.

Alongside improvements to organisational learning, the brigade has enhanced firefighter communications, including work to improve the resilience of radio communications at incidents, particularly in high-rise buildings, and strengthened training so firefighters can recover from the loss of communications.

Training has also been enhanced to improve firefighters’ understanding of water supply systems, hydrants and techniques for increasing water flow and pressure during major incidents.

Following phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the brigade made changes to policies, procedures and equipment, which have been accelerated thanks to the mayor of London’s record investment, which has ensured London Fire Brigade is now better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and keep all Londoners safe.

New lifesaving equipment such as breathing apparatus with radios was introduced after the phase one report to allow crews to communicate faster in emergencies and boosted communications between London’s emergency services.

The brigade also has the tallest turntable ladders in Europe, standing at 64 metres high, and London Fire Brigade is now able to receive and store electronic building plans to support crews responding to critical incidents.

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a profound moment for London Fire Brigade. We remember the seventy-two people who lost their lives, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved, survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night.

“Completing all the remaining recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is an important milestone for the brigade. The changes that we have implemented mean that we are now better prepared to respond to incidents, and Londoners today are safer as a result.

“We will continue working with our partners across government and the fire and rescue sector to ensure the lessons of Grenfell are learnt and this continues to shape everything we do.”

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