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| Grenfell Tower fire caused by faulty fridge on fourth floor, reports suggest | Grenfell Tower fire caused by faulty fridge on fourth floor, reports suggest |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The deadly fire that broke out at Grenfell Tower was caused by a faulty fridge in a fourth-floor apartment, reports suggest. | The deadly fire that broke out at Grenfell Tower was caused by a faulty fridge in a fourth-floor apartment, reports suggest. |
| The flat’s owner, said to be mini-cab driver Behailu Kebede, reportedly attempted to warn other residents about the blaze in his kitchen, potentially saving lives. | The flat’s owner, said to be mini-cab driver Behailu Kebede, reportedly attempted to warn other residents about the blaze in his kitchen, potentially saving lives. |
| Neighbours told how Mr Kebede, a father of one, immediately raised the alarm after discovering the fire in his flat, which was number 16 in the 24-story block, as well as contacting the police and fire services. | Neighbours told how Mr Kebede, a father of one, immediately raised the alarm after discovering the fire in his flat, which was number 16 in the 24-story block, as well as contacting the police and fire services. |
| Maryann Adam, 41, lived next door to Mr Kebede at number 14. She said her neighbour had woken her up to warn her about the fire. | Maryann Adam, 41, lived next door to Mr Kebede at number 14. She said her neighbour had woken her up to warn her about the fire. |
| “He knocked on the door, and he said there was a fire in his flat,” she told MailOnline. “It was exactly 12.50am because I was sleeping and it woke me up. | “He knocked on the door, and he said there was a fire in his flat,” she told MailOnline. “It was exactly 12.50am because I was sleeping and it woke me up. |
| “The fire was small in the kitchen. I could see it because the flat door was open. There was no alarm.” | “The fire was small in the kitchen. I could see it because the flat door was open. There was no alarm.” |
| The account appears to back up reports in the hours immediately after the fire suggesting a faulty fridge had been to blame, but investigators said their inquiries are at an early stage and have not confirmed what started the blaze. | The account appears to back up reports in the hours immediately after the fire suggesting a faulty fridge had been to blame, but investigators said their inquiries are at an early stage and have not confirmed what started the blaze. |
| The fire engulfed the building within minutes - fuelled, reports suggest, by cladding that had been added to the outside of the tower last year in order to improving the appearance of the block. | The fire engulfed the building within minutes - fuelled, reports suggest, by cladding that had been added to the outside of the tower last year in order to improving the appearance of the block. |
| Seventeen people are confirmed to have died in the blaze but police said they expect the death toll to rise significantly. | Seventeen people are confirmed to have died in the blaze but police said they expect the death toll to rise significantly. |
| Mr Kebede’s friend, Eshete Meried, said the taxi driver, who is originally from Ethiopia, escaped the building but was in shock. | Mr Kebede’s friend, Eshete Meried, said the taxi driver, who is originally from Ethiopia, escaped the building but was in shock. |
| “Behailu did raise the alarm, that is what I am hearing,” she said. | “Behailu did raise the alarm, that is what I am hearing,” she said. |
| “He is fine but he is not in a position to talk about anything right now. I understand that he in a temporary shelter, staying with friends.” | “He is fine but he is not in a position to talk about anything right now. I understand that he in a temporary shelter, staying with friends.” |
| Mr Kebede said he was “very upset” but did not want to comment further. | Mr Kebede said he was “very upset” but did not want to comment further. |
| It comes as police opened a criminal investigation into whether any individual or company should be held legally responsible for the fire. | It comes as police opened a criminal investigation into whether any individual or company should be held legally responsible for the fire. |
| Reports suggest that warnings by residents about inadequate fire safety provisions in the tower block were not dealt with by the building’s management company, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation. | Reports suggest that warnings by residents about inadequate fire safety provisions in the tower block were not dealt with by the building’s management company, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation. |
| Theresa May also announced there will be a full public inquiry, led by a judge, to get to the bottom of what happened and rule on whether the fire could and should have been prevented. | Theresa May also announced there will be a full public inquiry, led by a judge, to get to the bottom of what happened and rule on whether the fire could and should have been prevented. |