One hundred days on from the Grenfell Tower disaster, a look back at key events since the fire

Fiona Simpson22 September 2017

Flames ripped through Grenfell Tower on June 14 leaving around 80 people dead in a tragedy that rocked the capital.

153 survivors are still living in hotels and 330 organisations face criminal charges over the blaze.

The Evening Standard looks back at 100 days since the fire:

June 14

12.54am London Fire Brigade responds to calls of a huge inferno at Grenfell Tower in west London.

Crews race to the site within six minutes and battle to reach trapped residents as flames rip through the 24-storey building.

Horrified witnesses reported seeing some people jump from the high-rise and others “disappear” as huge flames reached their windows.

Flames tore through the 24-storey tower
Jeremy Selwyn

8am LFB confirmed 50 people had been taken to hospital following the blaze and said there were “a number of fatalities”.

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton described the blaze as "unprecedented", with more than 250 firefighters and 40 fire engines attending the scene.

Support: Mourners hug in the shadow of the burnt-out tower block
Getty Images

9.45am Firefighters desperately battled to reach the 21st floor. as rumours emerged residents had been told to stay in their flats.

Sadiq Khan called for “questions to be answered” amid rumours residents had been told to stay in their flats.

Temporary shelters were opened for the homeless as volunteers handed out food and water to those affected.

Names of the dead and missing began to emerge in a desperate hunt for loved ones.

Grenfell Tower aftermath - In pictures

1/14

12 noon The Prime Minister makes a statement expressing her sadness at the “tragic loss of life” and orders a cross-Whitehall meeting to deal with the disaster.

4pm Kensington and Chelsea Tenant management Organisation admit knowledge of residents’ concerns over the safety of the building.

5pm Firefighters finally reach the top floor of Grenfell Tower after battling broken gas pipes.

Some have been working for almost 24 hours and are applauded as they pass through the cordon.

12 people are confirmed dead and the death toll is expected to rise.

9pm vigil for the victims is held at Notting Hill Methodist Church in west London, in the shadow burning tower.

Survivors spend the night in shelters while Adele is spotted visiting the scene.

June 15

Theresa May orders a full public enquiry into the blaze.

Volunteers flock to the scene with food, clothes and blankets for survivors.

June 19

A minute’s silence is held across the UK and emergency crews work to establish a death toll which stands at around 79.

June 22

Kensington and Chelsea Council chief Nicholas Holgate quits over the fire after communities and local government secretary, had "required the leader of the council to seek my resignation".

He said: “Serving the families so desperately affected by the heartbreaking tragedy at Grenfell Tower remains the highest priority of the council.

"Despite my wish to have continued, in very challenging circumstances, to lead on the executive responsibilities of the council, I have decided that it is better to step down from my role, once an appropriate successor has been appointed."

June 23

Police confirm the fire started in a faulty fridge as it emerges cladding and insulation fails safety tests.

July 2

Tenants illegally sub-letting in the tower are made exempt from prosecution while mourners and families of the missing gather and lay tributes daily at the scene.

July 5

A taskforce is launched to run the Kensington and Chelsea Council.

July 8

The Fire Brigade announce the minimum number of crews sent to high rise towers will be increased.

July 10

Second vigil in Notting Hill for Grenfell Tower tragedy

1/10

Police confirm 255 of 300 people believed to have been in the tower escaped.

Scotland Yard said they still believed that around 80 people were dead or missing, despite suggestions from some independent experts that the death toll could be over 100.

“Stay Put” advice given to those trapped in the block would be examined by the criminal investigation into the fire, along with the cladding and fire exits, detectives said.

June 14

Hundreds of people join a silent march a month on from the blaze.

July 19

1,500 sign a petition calling for the elected leadership of Kensington and Chelsea council to resign before the first full cabinet meeting after the blaze.

Leader of Kensington & Chelsea Council Elizabeth Campbell
Victoria Jones/PA

Elizabeth Campbell is elected as new leader of the council and is immediately heckled by protesters who stormed the town hall.

Addressing survivors in the chamber during the meeting, Cllr Campbell said: "I am deeply sorry for the grief and trauma that you are suffering.

"I am truly sorry that we did not do more to help you when you needed it the most."

July 27

The Scotland Yard investigation into the fire said there was “reasonable grounds” to suspect the council and the Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation that managed the tower block of corporate manslaughter.

August 1

Elaine Elkington is named as new leader of Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO).

She is immediately branded “crass” for failing to mention the tragedy in her first public statement.

August 23

Council chiefs are stripped of the responsibility of 10,000 homes on the Lancaster Estate.

August 24

Kensington and Chelsea Council pledges £76.5m on rehoming survivors, 13 of which had been placed in temporary accommodation.

August 25

A total of 228 high-rise buildings are found to have failed government tests over fire safety.

New measures were introduced on the worst performing buildings to prevent another disaster.

Carnival-goers observe a minute's silence.
PA

August 28

Doves are released at the opening of Notting Hill Carnival in tribute to the victims as the parade takes place in the shadow of the charred block.

September 2

Stars including Mo Farah and Damien Lewis descend on Queen’s Park for a charity football match dubbed Game 4 Grenfell.

Four former residents took to the pitch after 80 minutes to a standing ovation.

In Pictures | #Game4Grenfell | 02/09/2017

1/15

Hundreds more victims and those affected locally who were given free tickets to the match.

Team Les Ferdinand beat Team Alan Shearer 5 -3.

Funds raised from the game - expected to be well over £200,000 – were planned to be distributed to survivors through the London Community Foundation and the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund, and towards community projects.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has promised to double the amount raised.

September 14

An inquiry into the disaster is opened by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

The former Court of Appeal judge promised not to “shrink” from making any damning findings or recommendations which could lead to criminal charges against individuals or organisations.

He also announced that assessors will be appointed to advise him but ruled out survivors appearing on the panel.

A minute’s silence was held for the victims.

September 19

Police confirm 330 organisations are being investigated as part of a criminal probe into the blaze.

Senior officers said that each organisation had been involved in either the construction, refurbishment or management of the building.

Eight people are also being investigated over claims they fraudulently claimed money after the inferno.

Potential criminal charges for offences of fraud, misconduct, health and safety breaches, breaches of fire safety regulations or manslaughter on a corporate or individual level would be considered if evidence emerged of unlawful action.

Police confirmed the death toll is expected to be slightly lower than 80 as 60 people are formally identified.

September 20

All of the children killed in the fire are among 66 people identified.

September 21

Kensington and Chelsea Council confirm five families have been permanently rehomed.

They added that 153 households were still living in hotels and 41 in temporary accommodation.

A further £5.5m was pledged to help victims.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT