Senator Warns That Certain Dublin Apartment Blocks At Risk Of ‘Grenfell-Like Disaster’

Labour senator, Kevin Humphreys has expressed his concerns towards Dublin apartment blocks.

He believes that the blocks are at risk of a major fire disaster - similar to the one that tragically claimed 71 lives in the Grenfell Tower in London.

It is believed that one of the main causes of the rapid growth of the fire in London was due to the cheap cladding that was used on the outside of the building.

Humphrey's states that similar cladding is on the outside of many of the buildings in the capital. 

Speaking in the Seanad, Humphreys feared that something similar to the Grenfell Tower disaster may happen in Dublin and around the country. 

"It will be a difficult Christmas for people who lost family members in that terrible fire in London. It has been six months since the fire in Grenfell Tower.

“We remember our own people who were lost in the Stardust fire. Their families have never got over the loss of their children - they raise the matter constantly, and rightly so. I have sought answers on the issue I am raising this morning.

“Since the fire in Grenfell Tower, the London fire brigade has changed how it deals with high-rise fires. When I say high-rise, people think of large towers, but they are not.

“They are six storeys and above. There are many such buildings across the country. Prior to Grenfell, London fire brigade would send four fire appliances and one high-reach vehicle In the six months since, it has changed that complement to five appliances and one high-reach vehicle.

“Why are we only sending three fire appliances and one high-reach vehicle?” Mr Humphreys asked. After the fire in London, .

“I have asked a question time and again but have not got an answer - is there a register in each fire brigade station of these buildings' locations?

“I only raised this matter to prevent a tragedy like the one in London from happening in Dublin , Cork, Limerick or Galway. We need action, and I want answers as quickly as possible.”

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