Grenfell Tower Fire: Firefighters’ Activities and Their Exposure to Fire Smoke and Heat

Abstract

Objective: To characterise the smoke exposure of firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire during the initial 20 hours. Methods: As no compilation of exposure data exists, data was compiled from nine unconnected sources, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, firefighters’ statements, incident logs and the UK Firefighter Cancer and Disease Registry. Results: Of the 628 firefighters who attended, information was available from 524. 89% reported exposure to smoke without respiratory protection equipment (RPE), of whom 23% also reported exposure to excessive heat. Common reasons for smoke exposure were assisting casualties (18%), running out of air (15%) and climbing stairs without activating RPE to conserve air (17%). Conclusions: A significant proportion of firefighters reported inhaling smoke during the incident with potentially debilitating health effects.