A string of arsons and a hoax led to a series of callouts for Worthing firefighters overnight.
Between 1.11am and 2.17am fires were started in Wallace Parade, Goring Road, Marlborough Road and Down View Road.
A bin, hedges and a shed were all damaged.
While firefighters were dealing with those blazes, they received a call saying a family with a baby were trapped in a burning flat in Stoke Abbot Road.
Police and ambulance services were also called out.
When they arrived, there was no fire.
Crew manager Mark Upperton of Worthing fire station said: "We had a busy night thanks to this arsonist and had to commit resources where they were not needed thanks to this hoax."
Sussex Police are investigating the hoax call.
Anyone with information about the hoax or the arsons is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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