Tower blaze response ‘would be different’ after Grenfell, London Fire Brigade head Dany Cotton says

The head of the London Fire Brigade today vowed that its response to another Grenfell Tower-style inferno would be “very different”.

Dany Cotton said many more firefighters would be deployed immediately — but did not say that the building would be evacuated automatically.

Ms Cotton was heavily criticised for telling the Grenfell Inquiry last year that she would not have done anything differently on the night of the fire.

(PA)

But appearing before the London Assembly today, she said: “Clearly, knowing now what we know about Grenfell Tower and similar buildings with ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding, our response would be very different.”

At least 10 fire engines and specialist equipment would be deployed and drones with loudhailers would be used to alert residents to the fire, she said.

Dany Cotton said the brigade's response to a similar incident

Ms Cotton said a national review of the “stay-put” strategy was needed.

She said the brigade was “clearly ready to learn” the lessons of Grenfell.

“Our response would be very different,” she added.