Grenfell Tower fire

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/grenfell-tower-fire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Grenfell Tower fire built?Original construction completed in 1974
2. How tall is Grenfell Tower fire?24 storeys
3. What is the location?North Kensington, West London, England
4. What is the primary cause of rapid spread?Combustible rainscreen cladding system and inadequate cavity barriers
5. What caused the fire at Grenfell Tower?The fire started because the building had cladding made of combustible materials that let the fire spread quickly.
6. Why did the fire spread so fast?The cladding had gaps and foam that let the fire travel up and across the building, making it a huge blaze.

Rainscreen Cladding: A building facade system designed to protect from rain and improve insulation.
Polyethylene: A common type of plastic, which in this context was highly combustible.
Cavity Barriers: Fire-stopping components within a building's wall structure to prevent fire spread.