Historical eventJune 142017

Grenfell Tower fire

A fire severely damaged Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, killing 72 people.

In context

When
Wednesday, June 14 20179 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2017.

What came beforeAI-assisted

Grenfell Tower was a 24-story public housing block completed in 1974 in North Kensington, West London. The building housed around 600 residents in 120 flats, predominantly low-income families and vulnerable people.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

The fire started in a fourth-floor flat around 00:54 GMT on June 14, 2017, in a Hotpoint refrigerator. The exact cause of the electrical fault was never definitively established, but the fridge model was later recalled.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

London Fire Brigade responded with 200+ firefighters and 40+ fire engines. The building's management company, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), and the local council were later scrutinized for maintenance and safety decisions.

Residents included families, elderly people, and asylum seekers. 72 people died, with 70 others injured and many left homeless.

TimelineAI-assisted

00:54 GMT: Fire started in fourth-floor flat. 01:29 GMT: London Fire Brigade arrived. 02:47 GMT: Evacuation order issued for upper floors. By 06:00 GMT: Fire was under control; full extent of damage became apparent over following hours.

What happened

A fire severely damaged Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, killing 72 people.

June 14 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1985European Economic Community
  2. 1986Mindbender (Galaxyland)
  3. 1992Disappearance of Helena Andersson
  4. 19941994 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot
  5. 1996Foreclosure
  6. 2002Near-Earth object
  7. 2014War in Donbas
  8. 20142014 Ukrainian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 shootdown
  9. 2017Steve Scalise
  10. 2017Grenfell Tower fire
  11. 20262026 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision

Also in 2017

  • March 14NihoniumA naming ceremony for the chemical element nihonium takes place in Tokyo, with then Crown Prince Naruhito in attendance.
  • September 15Parsons Green train bombingA homemade bomb partially exploded on an eastbound District line train at Parsons Green tube station in West London, injuring 30 passengers.
  • September 18Toys "R" UsToy retail chain Toys "R" Us files for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada.
  • October 20Syrian civil warSyrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declare victory in the Raqqa campaign.
  • September 32017 North Korean nuclear testNorth Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test at Punggye-ri, causing a magnitude-6.3 earthquake.
  • September 3North KoreaNorth Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
  • November 5Sutherland Springs church shootingDevin Patrick Kelley kills 26 and injures 22 in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
  • October 14Al-Shabaab (militant group)An Al-Shabaab suicide bomber detonated a massive truck bomb at the Zobe junction in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, killing 587 people, inj…

Everything we record for 2017 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Grenfell Tower fire”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/grenfell-tower-fire-2017-june-14, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Grenfell Tower fire happen?

June 14 2017 — 9 years ago, on a Wednesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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