Thirty years before Grenfell Tower there was another fire in London that cast a long shadow over the capital.
More than 30 people were killed at Kings Cross after debris that had gathered under a wooden escalator caught light. Amazingly, in today’s terms, back then you could still smoke underground.
The fire changed fire safety and a long list of changes followed. It’s worth remembering that for some these changes are ‘red tape’. But red tape is often written in the blood of people whose death taught a lesson.
London Fire Brigade told the story in real-time on Twitter drawing in a range of sources.
30 years ago the #KingsCross fire took the lives of 31 people & changed fire safety forever. We’ll relive that blaze in real time #KX30 pic.twitter.com/Qul4NshvDG
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 18, 2017
Mr Squire was travelling up escalator 4 & noticed white smoke underneath stair treads & saw sparks. He reported it to the booking clerk #KX30 pic.twitter.com/oNzyGwSvzx
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 18, 2017
Firefighters were tackling this blaze in woollen tunics which were pretty much unchanged since 1866 & absorbed water. Plastic leggings that melted & red gardening gloves. The uniform was impractical for firefighting #KX30 pic.twitter.com/8jCADbgj1A
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 18, 2017
What was also interesting was that the hashtag – #KX30 allowed for people to contribute their own memories.
Having spent two wonderful years working at the station, this is a tragedy that has become very close to my heart – I’ve heard accounts from that horrific night and I’ve seen remnants of the fire still hidden away around the station today. #KX30 pic.twitter.com/Q5kgEAEv2C
— Pumpkin Jack 🎃🎄 (@MoreToJack) November 19, 2017
Amazingly, the thread brought together people whose lives had been changed:
I’ve had some Fantastic messages of support and one really stuck out. @nickgunnphotos has contacted me about how HIS dad and cousin pulled out MY dad from the #KingsCrossFire Nick’s Dad is on the left & his cousin is standing caring over my dad who’s on the stretcher @LondonFire pic.twitter.com/ixkRKK60Ai
— Brett Trefry (@BrettTrefry) November 19, 2017
Statistics make sense of the big picture. Human stories bring them to life.