London's Grenfell Tower disaster: how did the fire spread so quickly?

Number of factors in the design of Grenfell Tower have contributed to the speed & scale of blaze

In the middle of the night, while most residents were sleeping, a devastating fire started at Grenfell Tower in London. The emergency response was rapid and robust: more than 200 firefighters attended the scene, with assistance arriving just six minutes after the first calls were made. Emergency services have confirmed that 12 people are dead. More remain missing and dozens are injured. Already, people are asking how the fire spread so rapidly and why it was so difficult for residents to escape.

Doubtless, in time, a thorough investigation will reveal the full details of what