01 May 2008

Industrial estate fire in Bexhill

On 30th April 2008, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Mobilising and Communication Centre received a total of 22 emergency calls stating that a serious fire was underway in a building on an industrial estate on Brett Drive, Bexhill. The first call was taken at 22:15. The caller described a serious fire and the sound of explosions from the large single storey industrial building.

Fire crews from Bexhill, Hastings Bohemia Road and Battle community fire stations were immediately dispatched to the scene. On arrival fire crews tackled the blaze from ground level using a hose reel jet and wearing specialist breathing apparatus, whilst firefighters used the Aerial Ladder Platform to tackle the fire from above.

Once the fire had been bought under control, large sheets of asbestos were identified in the roof of the building and subsequently crews withdrew from the area. Working in partnership with the local Environmental Health Officer and Sussex Police, fire crews remained on scene to ensure that the building was made safe.

Eight people who worked in a nearby supermarket were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Fire Investigation Officers continue to work with Sussex Police and the Environmental Health agency to carry out a detailed and thorough investigation of the scene.