A thatched cottage was gutted after a chimney fire spread to the roof.
More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze for 12 hours in the tiny hamlet of Wepham, near Arundel, through Wednesday night (February 27) and Thursday morning (February 28).
Crews were called at 7.30pm with every station in the county in action at some point overnight.
It is thought the blaze was started accidently, although fire investigators were unable to access the building until yesterday afternoon (February 28).
On Thursday morning all that remained was the shell of the house with the thatched roof either destroyed or spread around the surrounding driveways.
Sandra Hales, who lives nearby, said: “The owner stayed at our house last night.
“I think she managed to get a couple of hours sleep.
“It’s difficult to think about but that is her home – just gone.
“The firefighters did a fantastic job and the one good thing to come out of this is that everybody is ok.”
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