Grenfell, night of the fire

• Photographer
  Guilhem Baker, France

In the early hours of June 14 a fire started in a kitchen at Grenfell
tower block in White City, London that was to leave a community
devastated, and a nation demanding answers of a minority
government formed less than one week after the 2017 general
election. The blaze engulfed the 24-storey building (containing 120
apartments) with 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines attending the
scene. Families were trapped, many advised to stay where they were
and never finding a way out. The fire claimed over 70 lives that night.
London Fire Brigade declared it a major incident and unprecedented in
modern times.

Significant criticism regarding social housing standards, emergency
procedure, Downing Street's response and council management
emerged in the immediate aftermath. Nine months on Theresa May's
government still stands and the voices that were once so vocal have
diminished, as media focus moves on.

Awards Press Photographer of the Year 2017 - UK Picture Editors' Guild Awards
Winner of News Photographer of the Year - UK Picture Editors' Guild
Photo Essay of the Year - UK Picture Editors' Guild
Assignments 2017 - British Press Photographers' Association
Sony World Photography Awards 2018 - Commended twice