The lesson of Grenfell tower
The fire alarm worked fine, in the middle of the night
in the kitchen of flat 16 where a fridge was well alight
a minute later 999, and fire teams made a plan
and blues and twos awoke the streets where fire tenders ran
six more minutes later saw two tenders on the scene
and firemen found the fourth floor flat where the burning fridge had been
but even as they entered it, the heat escaped its tether
it burned through foam and cladding where joints were pushed together
people called the fire brigade for advice on what to do
most were told they should stay put, it would help the fire crew
they could isolate the fire, and stop it in its tracks
but the fire slipped out already, behind the firemen's backs
and the people called the fire brigade to ask advice again
and all were told they should stay put, its safer to remain
but the fire raced through the cladding, now it had escaped its seat
and every side was glowing now with exponential heat
and people called the fire brigade, to ask if they should go
but the stairwell filled with acrid smoke, so the fire brigade said no
and the fire swirled around the tower, probing windows on each floor
and it got back in the building, at twenty points or more
and the people called the fire brigade, to ask what they should do
stay where you are we are if you possibly can we are going to rescue you
but the firemen needed water they could hear the people cry
and the firemen needed water but the rising main was dry
and the people called the fire brigade, desperate for a plan
evacuate the tower now, leave the building if you can
but too late now for those who stayed, forced upward ever higher
they reached the top of Grenfell tower, but perished in the fire
so 72 were lost that night, when the fire broke all the rules
and made architects, town planners, and firemen into fools.
