The June 14, 2017 inferno at Grenfell Tower, a public housing building set in Britain’s richest borough of Kensington and Chelsea, horrified the nation and prompted many questions about lax safety regulations and other failings by officials and businesses that contributed to so many deaths.
The fire broke out in the middle of the night in a kitchen on the fourth floor of the tower and spread rapidly up the outside of the 25-story building like a lit fuse. Flammable cladding panels installed on the tower’s exterior walls have been blamed for how the fire raced out of control.
A public inquiry has been conducting a years-long investigation into the disaster, and a large police investigation is also ongoing. No one has been charged, and police have said there will be no prosecutions until the public inquiry is completed.
That has frustrated many survivors and bereaved families. The Rev. Graham Tomlin, bishop of Kensington, said many families cannot move on until they find justice.
“They can’t find any sense of acceptance or integration of what’s happened in their lives,” he told Times Radio. “They can’t rebuild their lives until there’s a sense of justice, because people feel that something deeply wrong went on at Grenfell and yet no one has been held responsible for it.”
Last month the British government banned metal composite cladding panels for all new buildings.
Officials have also issued new safety regulations requiring similar dangerous cladding to be removed from tower blocks across the country. But it's an expensive job and the work hasn’t been carried out on some apartment buildings because of wrangling over who should pay.
Flowers and tributes left outside the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Flowers and tributes left outside the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Former Prime Minister Theresa May, left and community volunteer Claire Walker speak before the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Former Prime Minister Theresa May, left and community volunteer Claire Walker speak before the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Credit: Jonathan Brady
A tree is decorated, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
A tree is decorated, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Members of multi-faith clergy gather, prior to the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Members of multi-faith clergy gather, prior to the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Credit: Jonathan Brady
A member of the public holds a white rose, during the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
A member of the public holds a white rose, during the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Credit: Jonathan Brady
A view of the boarded up Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
A view of the boarded up Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Flowers and tributes left outside the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Flowers and tributes left outside the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
The Dean of Westminster David Hoyle leads the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
The Dean of Westminster David Hoyle leads the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William attends a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William attends a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Credit: Peter Nicholls
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People observe the memorial, near to the remains of the Grenfell Tower, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
Credit: Alberto Pezzali
People place white roses in memory of the victims after the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
People place white roses in memory of the victims after the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2018, in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The memorial service marks the fifth anniversary of the fire that killed 72 people. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Credit: Jonathan Brady
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge lay a wreath during a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge lay a wreath during a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in London, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze were read out at a memorial service Tuesday to mark five years since the tragedy. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Peter Nicholls
Credit: Peter Nicholls
