London Fire Grenfell tower - Passionate caller hails her fire brigade
The caller, Ian, hailed the fire brigade as heroic praising their efforts but expressed shocked at how stretched they were as they tried to save lives. Speaking on BBC London, the caller insisted that the firemen should have better funding and support for 200 firemen and 40 fire engines tackled the blaze. He said: “What people were saying outside the buildings has to be taken into account. “I’m sorry but these residents know better than anybody of what it was like to live in these places.
GETTY•EPA A caller hailed the fire brigade for their efforts fighting the Grenfell Tower blaze
“The one image that got me yesterday was the firemen that were sitting down, and I can’t remember his name I think it was Paul, a handsome chap, he was absolutely exhausted and so were the rest of his colleagues. “They were laying there most probably taking any sort of drink and any sort of food that they could get. “When I heard early on your news channel that instead of working a five-hour shift, they were working 12 which you would say they would do in a flash, but they shouldn’t.” The caller then urged the government to end cuts to vital services, reiterating that the firemen shouldn’t have been working in these conditions, even if it was an “unprecedented” incident. Ian added: “The commander was probably doing his best to rotate them as best as possible to make sure that they did not come to harm, doing their job.
If they were stretched, it only took another incident Caller, Ian
“But to be honest, all the cuts we have had over the years, all the fire stations we have had closed. Yesterday when those engines arrived, someone else had to cover where they were supposed to be. “I don’t know if the situation was stretched to its breaking limit. Only the fire brigade would be able to comment on that and I doubt if it was because they’re such experts in what they do. “If they were stretched, it only took another incident. We can’t be leaving our fire brigade, our paramedics, our police, our military stretched to the limit where they can stop what they are doing and let someone take over, if only for a couple of hours. “Those firemen yesterday needed a break. They didn’t get it. They would say ‘we’ll work through it’, yes, it’s commendable, applause to them, but they shouldn’t do it. “They need the reserves. They need reserve firemen to cover them. Stop the cuts.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed: “Emergency services have now moved from the rescue phase of their operation to the recovery phase.”
Grenfell Tower fire: missing people Thu, June 15, 2017 These people are missing in the Grenfell Tower tragedy: can you help? Play slideshow Handouts 1 of 11 The missing people