I write to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning the fatal fire that occurred on 1 January 2023 at Old Kent Road, London.
I would be grateful if you could provide copies of the following documents and information held by the London Fire Brigade.
1. The complete Fatal Fire Investigation Report, including all appendices, photographs, diagrams, plans and supporting documents.
2. The complete Specialist Fire Safety Officer (SFSO) Report, including all appendices and supporting documentation.
3. Any post-incident audit, post-fire audit, fire safety audit, review or inspection carried out following this incident, together with all associated reports, correspondence and internal notes.
4. All documents relating to the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) for the premises, including copies of all FRAs held by the London Fire Brigade, together with any correspondence, emails or internal discussions regarding whether the FRA was suitable and sufficient.
5. All correspondence, including emails, letters and internal communications, between the London Fire Brigade and:
* HM Coroner or the Coroner’s Office;
* the London Borough of Southwark;
* the Metropolitan Police;
* any other public authority, relating to this incident.
6. Any internal communications, reports or decision logs concerning:
* the consideration of a Prevention of Future Deaths Report;
* requests received from the Coroner;
* the preparation of information for the Coroner;
* the reasons for any delay in providing information requested by the Coroner.
7. Any documents explaining the decision not to carry out, or to delay, a post-fire audit following this fatal incident.
8. Any London Fire Brigade policies, guidance or operational procedures that were in force at the time concerning:
* fatal fire investigations;
* post-fire audits;
* obtaining and reviewing Fire Risk Assessments;
* liaison with HM Coroner;
* investigations involving Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
9. Any lessons learned reports, debrief reports, recommendations or internal reviews arising from this incident.
10. Any records showing when the London Fire Brigade first obtained a copy of the Fire Risk Assessment for the premises.
11. Copies of all witness statements, interview records, contemporaneous notes or written accounts obtained from London Fire Brigade personnel in relation to this incident, including firefighters, fire investigators, Specialist Fire Safety Officers and officers in attendance.
12. Any documents, reports, analyses, timelines, diagrams, photographs, videos or other records relating to the progression and development of the fire, including any assessment or reconstruction of how the fire spread throughout the building.
13. Any documents, reports, witness statements, notes or analyses relating to the behaviour and movements of the occupants during the incident, including:
* attempts to escape;
* rescue attempts;
* observations made by firefighters;
* any survivability assessments;
* any analysis of the actions of those present during the fire.
14. Copies of any investigation logs, decision logs, contemporaneous notes, notebooks, electronic records or other investigation documents created during the investigation that have not previously been disclosed.
15. Copies of any photographs, video recordings, body-worn video, drone footage or other visual evidence held by the London Fire Brigade relating to this incident, where disclosure is not otherwise prohibited by law.
If any of the requested information is exempt from disclosure, please identify the specific exemption relied upon and provide any information that can be disclosed with appropriate redactions. If complying with the entire request would exceed the appropriate cost limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could advise me how the request may be refined so that the maximum amount of information can be provided. I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 working days.
