Today marks the second anniversary of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, in which at least 72 people were killed.

On 14 June 2017, at 1am in the morning, a fire took hold of a tower block in the centre of London. Caused by an electric fault in a fridge, the blaze gripped the entire building incredibly fast due to the tower being covered in highly flammable cladding. Grenfell Tower also lacked fire sprinklers.

One of several photographs of temporary community memorials erected to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire of June 2017. This memorial is on the barriers erected around the tower this set of barriers being next to the entrance to Kensington Leisure Centre. Photographed on 9 May 2018 by CarcharothCarcharoth
One of the temporary community memorials erected to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire

The fire damaged nearly every floor of the building and it is believed the cladding that was recently  put up on the sides of the tower made it spread more quickly.

Hundreds of people lost their homes, possessions and loved ones; with many bodies unaccounted for. Of those that were retrieved, 72 were officially confirmed dead due to the fire.

As many mark two years since the event with vigils and commemorations, there is still a lot of anger surrounding the incident.

Campaigners do not believe enough has been tough to prevent a similar tragedy. Many tower blocks around the country are still covered in similar unfit flammable cladding, while a vast number of tower blocks in the UK still have no emergency water sprinklers.

Activists, members of the public and politicians are also angry that some of the families made homeless form the Grenfell disaster are still without accommodation or the financial stability to move forward.


Eyewitness account

#Grenfell#JusticeForGrenfellTwo years gone.https://jasonnparkinson.com/2017/08/07/grenfell/1920X1080 25fps footage © Jason N. ParkinsonTermsThese video are for viewing only and may not be embedded or otherwise published without permission. www.jasonnparkinson.comFor full Terms & Pricing contact: jasonnparkinson@gmail.com

Posted by Jason N. Parkinson on Friday, 14 June 2019


Jason N. Parkinson is a video journalist and documentary filmmaker. Following the tragic events on Wednesday 14 June 2017, Parkinson visited the site, filmed the Grenfell Tower fire as it continued to rage, captured the firefighters, aftermath and tributes; and spoke to local residents.

Parkinson returned to the area again after his initial reporting of the incident, and cut the above short film:

At the time of the events surrounding Grenfell, Parkisnon wrote:

“It has been nearly two months since the horrific scenes of the Grenfell tower fire first hit our television, computer and phone screens. What followed was a total disaster. A disaster of local and national government, of building and safety regulation, a disaster of public sector cuts that left emergency services unable to to cope.

“In the end it was a disaster in support for all those affected by the Grenfell fire. As I write this we now find Grenfell survivors are facing racist abuse both online and in person.

“I decided to cut the video (above) from what hit the editing floor on the day of the fire and did not make it into my news packages. Then a week and a month after I returned to Grenfell to retrace my steps from that first day and to talk with people, either on camera or off.

“Grenfell will be etched into my mind until my dying days”

“I do not know of anyone that the Grenfell disaster has not affected, myself included. After covering the story on the first day I wrote up my experiences for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

“Just like the blackened tombstone remains of the tower looming over West London, Grenfell will be etched into my mind until my dying days.”

Part of Grenfell Tower, after the tragic fire, as seen from near Notting Hill Methodist Church, London. June 16, 2017 by ChiralJonStaff Reporter
Part of Grenfell Tower, after the tragic fire, as seen from near Notting Hill Methodist Church, London

PHOTOS: Jess Hurd on Grenfell Aftermath

READ MORE: Dart Center: When Trauma Catches Up


HD footage © Jason N. Parkinson available via [email protected]Terms: These video are for viewing only and may not be embedded or otherwise published without permission. For full Terms & Pricing contact: [email protected]

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