THE two huge fires in Europe, in London's Grenfell Tower and the central region forests of Portugal, are a study in contrast as to what the authorities should be doing after the blazes were put under control. They can pray for the dead and apologize to the families of the victims but if it stops at that, they're not doing their job properly. In Great Britain, much action has been taken in the wake of the high-rise fire, which killed at least 79 people. Tests are being carried out on about 600 high rises across England, especially those with cladding which is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Combustible cladding has been found on at least seven tower blocks in the UK. Prime Minister Theresa May said at least 100 buildings a day are being tested, with residents being informed of the findings. More than 800 homes in tower blocks on a council estate in Camden, north London, are being evacuated because of safety concerns over cladding. Families made homeless by the Grenfell Tower fire are to be rehoused in new apartments right next door to luxury private homes in one of the most exclusive parts of London. The government has now acquired 68 such apartments and will offer them within weeks to some of those who lost their homes in the June 14 inferno. May said that 164 "suitable properties" had now been found for those made homeless, and they were being checked over before residents can move in. Since the fire, more than £700,000 had been paid out to survivors — none of which would have to be repaid. Finally, London's Metropolitan Police Service is considering manslaughter charges among the criminal offenses that may have been committed in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire. The police investigation is focused on whether any person or organizations should be held responsible. Investigators are seeking to establish whether the use of the cladding was illegal. Documents have already been seized as well as material from a number of undisclosed organizations. In Portugal, in contrast, the pace of action has been much slower. As Portugal continues to bury its dead from its worst forest fire in history, the government insists it is still too early to say whether the disaster, which killed 64 people, could have been handled better. Both the government and the emergency services have been criticized over their response to the fires, so it is not premature to talk about possible state failings. It took five days to bring the fire under control because of high temperatures, dry woodland and strong winds. The effort was complicated further by the geography of the area. But there must be clarification why officers did not close the road where many of the victims burned to death and the extent to which rescuers' communications systems had been affected by the fire. More information is needed on whether the high death toll was the result of unusual weather or problems with the response. Why were early efforts to alert the public hindered after the flames destroyed phone lines and communications towers and locals started panicking and reacting on instinct alone? Some firefighters also spoke of a lack of equipment. Even confusion over how the fire started — dry thunderstorms or arson — does not mask reports that Portugal's plans for a fire of this scale has not been revised for years. It has had an ineffective fire prevention strategy usually parceled out among uncoordinated agencies, which blame each other when things go wrong. Wildfires in Portugal are nothing new; they are an annual menace. Many more blazes could follow in July and August when the biggest fires traditionally strike. What does the government intend to do about it then, other than a minute's silence for the victims?0
