June 20, 2017 – In light of the Grenfell Tower fire in London that engulfed the 24-storey building, U.K.blogger, Ian Pearson, an engineer and proclaimed futurist, went on the web searching for technology that might have provided an effective rescue system for those people who could not be reached because their descent escape routes were cut off.
The speed of the fire as it spread, the engulfing of much of the exterior surface, the materials used inresurfacing the tower, and a history of inadequate fire safety technology on site, all contributed to thehigh mortality. Residents living in upper floors had little opportunity to escape. With no balconies andno external fire escape, Grenfell was an accident that its residents feared would happen. But Pearsonfound when he went online a fireproof escape chute that could be extended as high as 100 meters(330 feet) using a skylift crane or if attached to a balcony, external ledge or window. The GrenfellTower stood 70 meters (220 feet) in height. So if London’s firefighters had this type of technology onhand it may have come into play to help save more lives.