Grenfell Tower: A Timeline of Failures — Interactive Learning Activity

How this works

Use the three phase tabs to move between Before, During and After the fire. Click each event to expand it and read about the failure. A reflection prompt accompanies each entry. Once you have explored all events, a final reflection section will appear at the bottom.

Final Reflection

You have explored all 14 events. Take a few minutes to consider the following questions. You can type notes below — they are not submitted anywhere and exist only in your current session.

Question 1

The Inquiry concluded the fire was the result of "decades of failure" by government and industry. Which failures do you think were most preventable, and why?

Question 2

What patterns or recurring themes do you notice across the Before, During and After phases?

Question 3

What does this timeline suggest about the relationship between cost-cutting, deregulation and public safety?

Self-check: Can you identify…

At least two ways the building's fire safety was compromised before the fire

Why the "stay put" advice became dangerous on the night

The role that cost and deregulation played in creating the conditions for the fire

At least two ways the response after the fire has been criticised as inadequate

Why residents' warnings before the fire went unheeded