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Gone in 60 seconds: Video compares British-style plastic fridge fireball with contained metal-backed US model

Footage showing how swiftly a British-style plastic-backed fridge-freezer can turn into a raging fireball has surfaced following the Grenfell Tower blaze that killed at least 79 people.

The clip, released by the London Fire Brigade, shows the UK model appliance side-by-side with a burning conventional metal-backed American model.

The blaze on the plastic fridge, similar to the one that sparked the inferno that killed at least 79 people when it engulfed a 24-storey building in west London, spreads rapidly.

In less than a minute the plastic-backed fridge is a fireball.

A burning conventional metal-backed American fridge (right) remains contained in comparison to the fireball of the plastic-backed British-style model. Picture: London Fire Brigade
A burning conventional metal-backed American fridge (right) remains contained in comparison to the fireball of the plastic-backed British-style model. Picture: London Fire Brigade

The video was shared in February as the fire authority lobbied for all new refrigerator and freezers to have a fully fire retardant backing as standard.

It has re-surfaced after it emerged the Hotpoint FF175BP fridge-freezer sparked the deadly west London Grenfell Tower disaster.

London Fire Brigade watch manager Andy Vaughan-Davies told the Mirror: "Once a spark ignites in the compressor which powers the freezer, it can be as little as 90 second before the whole kitchen is engulfed in flames.

The video was shared in February as the London Fire Brigade lobbied for all new refrigerator and freezers to have a fully fire retardant backing as standard. Picture: London Fire Brigade
The video was shared in February as the London Fire Brigade lobbied for all new refrigerator and freezers to have a fully fire retardant backing as standard. Picture: London Fire Brigade

"The foam used to insulate them is highly flammable and is the equivalent to having four gallons of petrol around your freezer. Once ignited it produces an intense heat three times that of a large bonfire. This is the cause of some of the worst home fires we have had.

"Once they catch fire, they burn extremely quickly producing thick smoke and intense heat," he said.

The appliance believed to have started the Grenfell inferno is the Hotpoint fridge freezer model number FF175BP, however the fridge has not been subject to any product recall.

The Hotpoint FF175BP fridge-freezer sparked the deadly west London Grenfell Tower disaster. Picture: AFP
The Hotpoint FF175BP fridge-freezer sparked the deadly west London Grenfell Tower disaster. Picture: AFP

About 64,000 of the appliances were sold between March 2006 and July 2009 before they were discontinued, The Sun reported.

Hotpoint has issued a statement saying they the company was working with the authorities.

"We are addressing this as a matter of utmost urgency and assisting the authorities in any way we can. We will provide additional updates as our investigations progress," a spokesperson said.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has since ordered an immediate review of the appliance involved in the blaze.

Less than two weeks after the deadly Grenfell Tower fire, a huge blaze has engulfed an east London apartment in a low-rise block of buildings, sending huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as flames shot from windows.

Ten fire engines and 72 firefighters on Saturday battled the blaze after flames engulfed a third-floor apartment building in Bethnal Green, then quickly spread to the roof.

One man was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Picture: Twitter/dionysislivanis
Picture: Twitter/dionysislivanis

The London Fire Brigade, which is also working to evacuate residents from the estate, found to have similar cladding to Grenfell, said it had received 50 calls to its emergency telephone line.

"Firefighters from Bethnal Green and surrounding fire stations are attending the scene," they said in a statement.

Picture: Twitter/swirl_drops
Picture: Twitter/swirl_drops

"The whole of a flat on the third floor and roof is also alight. A man has been taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews."

"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

The worst fire to hit the capital since World War II prompted a nationwide review of high-rise buildings after police said the cladding used on Grenfell had failed all safety checks.