As you have insight into firefighting could you comment on the number of firefighters that have been involved here? Because as a layman with only very little knowledge 200 firefighters seem to be a pretty low number for a scenario like this. I mean it is a massive building and there was a huge blaze that is still not fully extinguished. Or doesn't it make sense to have more people there because there's only limited room to work?
I only know a bit about how firefighting works here in Austria, but we have a system based on volunteer firefighters, which will will probably be very different to professionals.
Although I am not a firefighter, I have been around the brigade long enough to try and explain.
In the UK the average fire engine is pretty much split into three types - a pump, an aerial appliance and a special appliance. A pump is what most people associate as a fire engine, it is what attends every type of incident the brigade respond to. It carries between 4 and 6 crew and has around 1600 litres of water, a pump capable of pumping water of 1000 gpm. In addition they carry a variety of ladders, including a triple extension ladder measuring around 13.5 metres plus smaller ladders.
The rest of the equipment includes cutting gear for road accidents, hazmat gear, breathing apparatus, environmental protection gear. Pretty much a Swiss Army Knife on wheels.
If a house fire broke out then two pumps would be sent, three if people are reported to be trapped inside. That would bring around 15 firefighters to the scene.
Should the incident require additional resources, be it for manpower or extra equipment, the incident commander will request them. So a request for make pumps 10 will be a request for 8 additional pumps (fire engines) to supplement the two already on the scene. That would be around 50 firefighters.
Additional fire engines such as Turntable Ladders (100ft extending ladder) or Hydraulic platforms are normally sent on request, they normally have a crew of two guys.
Other fire engines are designated for special roles, such as Rescue Units (they carry no water or hose, just heavy rescue and cutting equipment, or additional breathing apparatus sets that have an extended duration of compressed air) and command units.
To put into context the fire at Grenfell Tower, the biggest fire the UK brigades tend to have is a 20 pump fire, that is around 100 firefighters and pretty much as big as it gets. The fire at Grenfell Tower was a 40 pump fire along with around 20 specialist fire engines - something on this scale is practically unheard of.