The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has completed all of its required actions in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, delivering additional improvements to organisational learning, firefighter communications and training.

The Phase 2 work improves how the LFB identifies and embeds lessions from operational incidents, as well as enhancing firefighter communications and strengthening training.

It follows a successful implementation of Phase 1 recommendations in 2024, which introduced wide-ranging improvements across LFB operational policies, incident command, traning, emergency call handling, communications and equipment.

London’s Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a profound moment for the London Fire Brigade. We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved, survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night.”

“Completing all of the remaining recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is an important milestone for the Brigade. The changes that we’ve implemented mean that we are now better prepared to respond to incidents. Londoners today are safer as a direct result of those changes.

"We will continue working with our partners across Government and the Fire and Rescue Service sector in order to ensure the lessons of Grenfell are learned and continue to shape everything we do.”

Learning from other sectors

A key element of the Phase 2 recommendations has been based around transforming the approach to organisational learning.

Taking best practise learnings from sectors including healthcare and aviation, the LFB has introduced new arrangements to ensure lessons from operational incidents, inquests and investigations are identified and put into practical improvements on a efficient basis.

Significant incidents are now prioritised, so that risk-critical learning can be shared with operational staff. This learning can help crews adapt to emerging risks and improve future emergency responses.

Improved communications

The LFB has also enhanced firefighter communications, incorporating work to improve the resilience of radio communications at incidents, particularly so in high-rise buildings. Training has also been enhanced to improve firefighters’ understanding of water supply systems, hydrants and techniques for increasing water flow and pressure during major incidents.

Following Phase 1, the LFB made large scale changes to policies, procedures and equipment, which have been accelerated thanks to investment from the Mayor of London. 

New life-saving equipment, including breathing apparatus with radios, was introduced after the Phase 1 Report to allow crews to communicate quicker in emergencies. It also served to boost communications between London’s Emergency Services.

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