Swiss ski bar which erupted into New Year inferno used 'same insulation foam as Grenfell', ex-firefighting commander claims
The Swiss ski bar that catastrophically burst into flames on New Year's Eve used the same insulation foam as Grenfell Tower, a former firefighter commander has claimed.
The Swiss ski bar that catastrophically burst into flames on New Year's Eve used 'essentially the same' insulation foam as Grenfell Tower, a former firefighter commander has claimed.
After viewing pictures and videos from inside Le Constellation, Steve Dudney said he believes the foam that can be seen igniting was a highly flammable material called polyurethane (PU).
A type of PU was among the materials in the walls of Grenfell Tower, and this was found to be one of the reasons the 2017 fire spread so quickly and killed 72 residents.
Footage from the nightclub in the Crans-Montana ski resort shows flames rippling across foam padding attached to the ceiling and quickly spreading around the room.
Authorities on Friday said they suspected a sparkler in a champagne bottle to be the most likely cause, after videos show many of the burning trophies being held aloft in the basement.
Mr Dudney, who served in the fire service for 31 years, said he believes the material in view is typical sound proofing foam - the kind often found in music studios.
He told Sky News: 'It should be nowhere where there are uncontrolled naked flames. Although that's a small pyrotechnic, you're effectively holding that up to one of the most flammable materials that we know.'
Mr Dudney added: 'Essentially, what was in the insulation behind the cladding at Grenfell Tower was PU foam as well, which just breaks down and burns really easily.'
Footage from inside Le Constellation appeared to show foam attached to the ceiling catching fire rapidly
After the foam was set alight in one spot in the basement, the flames quickly spread across the room
Some 72 people died when Grenfell Tower caught fire in June 2017, and the building's insulation material is known to have helped the flames spread
Former fire commander Steve Dudney the foam turns into 'liquid fire' when set alight
The ex-firefighter described PU as 'an organic hydrocarbon, and said very little heat is needed to set it on fire'.
Watching footage of the moment the flames took hold, Mr Dudney points out that the foam melts quickly, raining blazing droplets around the basement.
He said: 'You've got dropping fire, liquid fire; it melts to a liquid but still sustains combustion, but it will land as a burning droplet on anyone or anything beneath it.'