Three men who died in a fire at a disused building in White City have been formally identified for the first time, as inquests into their deaths have been opened and adjourned. The men are Hristo Ivanov Tomov, Kristin Deyanov Kirilov, and Ivo Ivanov Bohotski. The fire broke out on the evening of June 20 at the former Over 50s Centre on the White City Estate, with around 100 firefighters attending the scene. Two of the men died at the scene, while a third passed away after being taken to hospital.
Investigation and Inquests
The Metropolitan Police has been conducting an investigation into the incident since the blaze, which remains ongoing. The West London Coroner has opened and suspended inquests into the deaths, pending the outcome of the police investigation. The coroner has confirmed the identities of the deceased, nearly two months after the fatal fire.
The building, which was constructed in the 1980s, had been closed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council around a decade ago. Following its closure, it was occupied by homeless individuals. An arrangement was later made for the building to be managed under a guardianship, which ran until the end of 2024. After the guardians vacated the premises, homeless individuals once again moved in, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). The men who died had been squatting in the property, and their presence was known to the local authority. A council housing office is located next door.
Community Response and Calls for Answers
At a public meeting held shortly after the fire, residents questioned Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which owns the building, about how the incident occurred. Two friends of the deceased urged the council to provide more support for those affected, stating that the council was aware the men were in the building.
Harry Audley, a long-time White City resident and former Chair of the White City Residents Association (WCRA), told the LDRS at the time: "The priority now must be a thorough and transparent investigation, honest answers about the decisions that led to the building being removed from community use, and more than just 'lessons will be learned' from LBHF Council."
A spokesperson for the WCRA expressed deep concern over the ongoing impact of the fire, stating: "As the representative association for residents of White City and as managers of the White City Community Centre, adjacent to the Over 50s Centre where the fire occurred, WCRA has provided support to friends of the men who died in the fire and to other local residents who witnessed it."
The spokesperson added: "At the public meeting held days after the fire, it was clear how deeply affected our community had been by the fire and by questions around the council’s maintenance of the Over 50s Centre over the many years since it was last open. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the three men who died in the fire, with others living at the Over 50s Centre who were so severely affected and with our wider White City community which was praised by the emergency services for coming together to help each other."
Thanks to a generous donation from Hammersmith United Charities, the WCRA is setting up a series of listening and support sessions to help people process the emotional impact of the tragedy. The community is also looking forward to clear answers from the council about how the Over 50s Centre was maintained in the years and months before the fire.
Council's Response and Next Steps
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council previously extended their "deepest condolences" to the families, friends, and loved ones of the three people who died. They added that the council is supporting the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade with the ongoing investigation.
The inquests into the deaths remain adjourned, pending the outcome of the police investigation, which will determine the full circumstances surrounding the fire.
