Fire escape chutes
The simple problem with chutes is they are no good if the fire in on the outside of the building.
Secondly fat obese people would simply block them and get stuck.
Claustophobic people would also never use them.
You've obviously never been in a fire Peter.
The fire seems to have been a catalogue of disasters, too many some would say for coincidence to be at work. here are some possible issues.
1) The super flammable cladding
2) The council & Housing Agency seem to have completely ignored the residents' very vocal concerns
over several years
3) The fire brigade did not seem to have any prioritization for tower blocks - surely they would be 'code red'
4) There was very very limited road access to the block - in the case of multiple engines (for fire /ambulance) it was virtually unworkable. The block is actually at the end of a cul-de-sac
5) There was one stairwell to exit the building - 1 stairwell for 27 floors
6) There were no external fire escapes
7) The stairwell was blocked
8) How did the fire spread outside - didn't the man in the flat have the gumption to close his windows?
9) How come for several hours residents were told to stay in their flats?
10) How come some residents reported being stopped from leaving their flats and sent back to their flats by the fire brigade?
11) How come there were no fire extinguishers on the floors?
12) Don't the fire brigade have helicopters to drop water, like they do for forest fires?
13) There was no sprinkler system in the block
Those are just a few issues. Probably many more.
Rumblings are that riots will ensure.