The London fire in Grenfell Tower earlier this week was a scary incident for most. But the people in the building are grateful for all the Muslims who were observing Ramzan that night. A few Muslims returning from mosques were the first to notice the fire. They rushed into the building to help people from the blazing tower.
The fire engulfed the 24 storey residential tower that houses over a 100 families in west London. The incident claimed the lives of 12 people and injured as many as 74 people.
A local woman appreciated the Muslims who helped, “If it wasn’t for all these young Muslims, young boys round here – coming from mosques, helping us… people would have [died]. A lot more people would have [died].”
The woman also said the boys banged on all the doors warning people of the fire and shouting to alert the families to evacuate the building.
She further added, “ People want to talk about them when they do wrong – but when they’re doing good… They were the first people with bags of water, giving to people and helping people – running and telling people”.
Some of the residents acknowledged the Muslims help by saying they never heard the fire alarm and realised the danger only when one of the youths banged on their door.
The area around Grenfell Tower is home to a number of Muslims who were awake in the wee hours to eat suhur. Suhur is the early morning meal just before they begin their fast.
The fire is reported to have started on the second floor after midnight on Wednesday. The mosques, gurdwaras and churches in the area have offered shelter and assistance to all the survivors from the massive fire that burnt their houses.
