28 April 2008

Fire in eight-storey block of flats

On 27th April 2008, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Mobilising and Communication Centre received eight emergency calls stating that a serious fire was underway in an eight-storey block of flats in The Drive, Hove. The first call was taken at 16:18. The caller described smoke issuing from the first floor of the building with the possibility that people were trapped inside.

Fire crews from Hove, Preston Circus, Roedean, Barcombe, and Lewes Community Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the scene. On arrival fire crews tackled the blaze using an Aerial Ladder Platform and three hose reel jets whilst eight firefighters wearing specialist breathing apparatus entered the property to undertake search and rescue operations. A total of nine fire appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform and an appliance from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service attended the incident alongside Sussex Ambulance crews. One person was treated for smoke inhalation.

Smoke alarms fitted in the building alerted residents and neighbours to the fire and subsequently led to one person being rescued from the first floor by a neighbour.

Andy Gausden, Incident Commander, commented,

“This incident highlights the importance of having correctly fitted and working smoke alarms which alerted the residents and nearby neighbours to the fire in the early stages of its development. Smoke alarms should be tested weekly and the batteries should never be removed.”

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service can offer free smoke alarms and fire safety advice to residents and businesses in East Sussex and the C ity of Brighton & Hove.

For further information contact the Community Safety Team on 0800 1777 069.