A dozen people were forced to flee their flats after a chip pan caught fire.
Firefighters were called to the kitchen fire in Compton Street, Eastbourne, at 9.20pm yesterday after receiving calls from neighbours.
The fire, in a third-floor flat, badly damaged the kitchen and smokelogged the rest of the flat and corridor.
A damaged fire alarm meant the residents of the building, including the couple who lived in the flat, were forced to find alternative accommodation for the night.
Two crews attended the blaze and used a high-pressure fan to clear smoke.
A fire brigade spokesman said: "It's the same old story really - the fat got too hot and caught light. We urge people to keep a close eye on their food when they are cooking, particularly chip pans."
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