The Grenfell Tower Fire (Hardback)

This is a scathing account of all the things that went wrong and contributed to this terrible tragedy. It is also an expose of how conspiracies and misinformation cloud any real discussion that might come about. The media in particular is taken to task for encouraging click bait and ratings. Truth and real reflection is sacrificed to talking heads (often filled with cotton) and political agendas. Instead of looking at the various bits that eroded the situation allowing the catastrophe to occur, it was a game of who could apply CYA fastest. And, in the aftermath, without looking at the causes, any conclusions are questionable at best.

As a firefighter with great experience but not at Grenfell, the author is an excellent person to write this book and he does so with great passion. He is also a realist. He sums up the possible options to try and prevent a similar or worse disaster but also admits the real challenges that would make those decisions almost impossible. It does not leave the reader with great hope for the future but it is necessary to look at things realistically. Four purrs and two paws up.

NetGalley, Susan Johnston

Tony Sullivan’s Grenfell Tower is a deeply compelling and insightful account of one of the most tragic and avoidable disasters in modern British history. Written from the perspective of a seasoned firefighter with decades of experience, the book meticulously examines the systemic failures that led to the Grenfell Tower fire of June 14, 2017, in which seventy-two lives were lost.

Sullivan goes beyond simply recounting the harrowing events of that night. He situates the tragedy within a broader context of deregulation, declining safety standards, and repeated warnings that were ignored. The book draws crucial parallels between Grenfell and earlier fires, such as the 2009 Lakanal House fire, highlighting the alarming pattern of negligence in fire safety enforcement. By combining personal experience with technical analysis, Sullivan offers a unique perspective that is both authoritative and deeply personal.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. While it delves into complex issues of building regulations, fire safety protocols, and the failures of compartmentation, Sullivan presents these topics in a way that is understandable to both professionals and the general public. His writing is clear and direct, making the book a vital resource for anyone interested in fire safety, policy reform, or the broader implications of government deregulation.

Ultimately, Grenfell Tower is not just a retrospective on what went wrong; it is a call to action. Sullivan’s message is clear: unless real systemic changes are made, tragedies like Grenfell will happen again. This is an essential read for those who want to understand not just the events of that fateful night, but the deeper failures that allowed it to happen.

NetGalley, Joanne Ellis

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I remember the news the day the tower caught fire and by reading this I feel I have a wider view of what happened before and after the towers caught fire. This gives more of an impact of the fires on the fire service and the information that the press did not divulge.

NetGalley, A D